19839 COVID-19 positive cases in Armed Forces: Govt

• There are respectively 16758, 1365 and 1716 COVID-19 cases in Indian Army, Navy and Air Force

• 32 Indian Army and 3 IAF personnel have died of the COVID-19 infection, so far

New Delhi: (Defence News) Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik told Lok Sabha on Wednesday that there are a total of 19839 COVID-19 positive cases in Army, Navy and Air Force together, as on September 16. The number of COVID-19 cases in Army, Navy and Air Force is 16758, 1365 and 1716 respectively. While the number of deceased due to COVID-19 in Army and Air Force are 32 and 03 respectively and 'NIL' in case of Navy. "In line with the latest treatment trends at a national and global level, drugs like Favipiravir and Remdesivir have been made available in AFMS Hospitals. Plasma Therapy is also available in two hospitals of AFMS" Naik told the house.

Line of treatment

The minister said beginning in the month of March 2020 procurement of essential equipment to tackle COVID-19 cases in AFMS hospitals was undertaken. Supply order for ventilators, oxygen concentrators, hand thermal guns, multipara monitors, PPE, Face masks, sanitizers, disinfectants etc, were placed for all AFMS hospitals. Emergency procurement powers of the DGAFMS was sanctioned by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for procurement of additional equipment like RT-PCR machines and test kits. As on September 16,  there are 27 functional laboratories in the AFMS carrying out molecular testing for COVID using RT-PCR, TrueNat, CBNAAT and GenExpert techniques. Rapid Antigen Tests are available in the periphery for early diagnosis, isolation and contact tracing of cases.

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Quarantine Facilities

Station quarantine facilities have been set up in all military stations where troops are quarantined after returning from leave for 14 days.  Any person developing symptoms during quarantine is immediately tested and isolated if found positive. Teams comprising of medical and paramedical staff have been trained in tracing high-risk contacts of confirmed cases for instituting quarantine measures. Asymptomatic high-risk contacts are tested between day 7-10 of exposure.

No COVID death benefit

Minister of State (Defence) informed the house that as per the extant rules, there is no special compensation for deaths occurring due to infectious diseases while in service. However, all deaths while in service are awarded terminal benefits, he added.

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