122 jawans of the 31st Battalion CRPF (Central Armed Police Force) stationed in Mayur Vihar Phase-3 in East Delhi have been tested positive for the COVID-19, making it a new hotspot, with the base sealed and jawans in quarantine.
On Tuesday 28th April, CRPF Assistant Sub Inspector Mohd. Ikram Hussain from Assam breathed his last at Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital who was posted with the 31st Battalion. The battalion has seen a huge surge in the infected patients since then.
As stated by the officials, the test results of additional 100 suspected infected jawans is yet to come, and have already been put under quarantine. The jawans are believed to have contracted the virus from a nursing assistant from the paramedic unit of the CRPF who had tested positive earlier this month. The jawan, who joined the battalion, tested positive on April 21. He has been admitted to Delhi's Rajiv Gandhi Hospital.
The surge in cases is also attributed to the changing of directives issued from the Deputy Director Medical, which first hinted for a 5-day quarantine even when the Government's guidelines were of 14 days. A second directive was sent by the medical wing of the paramilitary force on April 17, with the quarantine period changed back to 14 days.
The jawans who have been tested positive are being treated in a facility in the capital's Mandawali.
26 Indian Navy personnel have also been tested positive from the COVID-19 at INS Ange, Mumbai.
Why such a spike in cases?
In the Armed Forces, camaraderie and brotherhood is strictly followed and the interaction between the soldiers and their Commanding Officer is quite high compared to other professions. In an estimate, if the virus leaks into the forces unnoticed, it would take no more than 20 days to infect 80% of all the personnel on duty. Thanks to the strict discipline measures implemented and having quicker responses, the Indian Armed Forces, be it the tri-services or Paramilitary or the Police forces have been actively engaged in helping the people and providing professional aid and support.
The virus has claimed more than 1,220 lives and infected over 37,300 people in India as of May 2nd, 2020 at 1400 hours.
תגובות