New Delhi: 21 Indian Navy personnel based out of the Indian Naval Ship, INS Angre, in Mumbai have tested positive for the coronavirus. According to reports they have been quarantined at a naval hospital in Mumbai. All the sailors are from INS Angre which is shore-based logistical and administrative support depot for operations of the Western Naval Command.


"This number includes 20 sailors of Indian Naval Ship Angre, a shore establishment at Mumbai," a Defence Ministry source said in an IANS report.

Most of the cases are asymptomatic and it has been traced to a single sailor who had tested positive on April 7. According to reports by IANS the sailors all reside in the same accommodation block at INS Angre. After testing positive the navy men now have been admitted to naval hospital INHS Asvini in Mumbai's Colaba.

"Entire living block was immediately put under quarantine. It has been made containment zone and Indian Naval Ship Angre too is under lockdown," said ministry source was quoted in the report. The official also said that all actions as per established COVID protocol are being taken. The officials in the ministry also highlighted that there are no cases of infection onboard ships and submarines.

According to a report by news agency ANI, the Indian army had also confirmed eight cases of infection. General Manoj Mukund Naravane said ‘So far, we have only 8 positive cases in the entire Indian Army, of which 2 are doctors and 1 nursing assistant, 4 are responding well to treatment and we had one case in Ladakh, now he is fully cured and has joined duty."

The cases of coronavirus in India are on a rise and have reached over 13000 cases with the death toll at 480.