Indian Army soldier tests positive for coronavirus, first case in military

In the first case of coronavirus affecting military personnel, a soldier from Leh is reported to have been infected by the virus.

New Delhi: In the first case of coronavirus affecting military personnel, an Indian Army soldier from Leh is reported to have been infected by the virus. He was on leave from February 25 to March 1. The soldier's father had returned from a pilgrimage in Iran.

On Tuesday, the number of novel coronavirus cases in India was at 137 even as the government issued directives to seal the country's borders urging people to take precautions in the wake of the spread of the deadly virus. So far, three deaths have been reported from the outbreak.

Meanwhile, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Tuesday asserted that India is currently at stage 2 and not stage 3 of the virus epidemic. To deal with the situation ICMR has 72 functional laboratories in government sector for testing. ICMR Director-General Dr Balram Bhargava in a press meet said that 49 more will be active by the end of this week.

Globally, the total number of positive cases is at 1,87,689 and the total number of deaths recorded till Tuesday night was 7,866.