26 Navy Personnel From INS Angre Infected with COVID-19

Most of the personnel are asymptomatic and have been traced to a single sailor who tested positive on 7 April.

Image used for representational purposes only.

Photo Courtesy: Indian Navy

Twenty six personnel from the Indian Navy have tested positive for COVID-19 in Mumbai as on Saturday, 18 April. The first sailor who tested positive was residing and working at INS Angre. The rest of the personnel who tested positive had come in close contact with that first sailor.

The sailors had shared the residential block in INS Angre, which is a shore-based logistics and support establishment of the Western Naval command, as confirmed to The Quint by an Indian Navy spokesperson.

“Most of these are asymptomatic and have been traced to a single sailor who was tested positive on 7 April 2020. They all reside in the same accommodation block at INS Angre. All primary contacts (though asymptomatic) were tested for COVID-19. Entire inliving block was immediately put under quarantine – containment zone and INS Angre too is under lockdown. (sic)”

Spokesperson, Indian Navy 

“All actions as per established COVID-19 protocol are being taken,” the Indian Navy spokesperson said. The Navy has also clarified that there have been no cases of infection on board its ships and submarines.

The infected personnel have been admitted in INHS Asvini, a naval hospital in Mumbai’s Colaba area.

Detection Result of Aggressive Testing

The navy in a statement said that the detection of these COVID-19 cases is the result of meticulous contact tracing and aggressive screening. “One sailor tested positive on 7 April. All these sailors continue to remain asymptomatic and are being monitored at INHS Asvini, under the care of the best medical professionals,” read the statement.

The entire premises of the unit have been sealed off. Containment zones and buffer areas have been designated and frequent disinfection continues to be carried out as per protocol to contain the spread by breaking the chain of transmission.

“All other areas within naval premises have been under strict lockdown and stringent quarantine and safety protocols have been enforced for personnel and their families, with door-to-door screening being undertaken for identification of cases, if any,” added the statement.

All Missions to Continue

The navy said that all missions for coastal and offshore security will continue as before. “Our naval assets continue to be mission-deployed in three dimensions, with all the networks and space assets functioning optimally… our assets continue to remain on patrol covering a vast oceanic swath from the Straits of Malacca in the East to Bab-el-Mandeb in the West, including undertaking Op Sankalp to provide reassurance and protection to our merchant vessels and Anti-piracy patrols in Gulf of Aden,” added the statement.

“The cases have no impact on operational capabilities of the Navy as our warships, submarines and aircraft continue to be deployed in operations.”

Deputy Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral MS Pawar

While the Indian Army has reported eight COVID-19 cases so far, these are the first case reported in the Navy.

In a 15-minute-long video message to naval personnel on 9 April, the Indian Navy chief had told his men that while they should hope for the best, the Navy should plan for the worst, reported the Hindustan Times.