Coronavirus outbreak in India: 21 Indian Navy personnel test positive

Those infected include 20 sailors of INS Angre, a shore establishment at Mumbai.

'Most of these are asymptomatic and have been traced to a single sailor who tested positive on April 7. They all reside in the same accommodation block at INS Angre. All primary contacts (though asymptomatic) were tested for Covid 19,” Indian Navy spokesperson Commnader Vivek Madhwal said.

Entire block was immediately put under quarantine - containment zone and INS Angre too is under lockdown, he added.

The Indian Navy said that all actions, as per established COVID-19 protocol, are being taken.

There are no cases of infection onboard ships and submarines.

INS Angre or Naval Barracks, as it’s called, is the shore-based logistics and administrative support establishment of the Western Naval Command. It works as a base depot for ships and units based in Mumbai.

While this is the first reported case of Covid-19 in the Indian Navy, the Army has so far reported eight positive cases.

“We have only eight positive cases in the entire Indian Army. Of the eight, two are doctors and one nursing assistant. Four are responding well to the treatment,” Army Chief General MM Naravane had said on Friday.

The Army personnel who have not come in contact with any Covid-19 positive person are being moved back to units.

“Our personnel who have not come in contact with any infected person are being moved back to units. We have already catered for two special trains -- from Bengaluru to Jammu and the other from Bengaluru to Guwahati,” he added.