New Delhi: Coronavirus, which has claimed over 5000 lives in India, has now reached the Ministry of Defence. As per sources quoted by agencies, a senior official of the ministry has tested positive for it, leading to further testing of a large number of defence officials. Many officials who came in contact with him have also self -quarantined themselves.

Though, there was no official comment on Kumar's health condition, as per a report  by PTI, sources have informed that the official who  tested positive for Covid-19 was India’s Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar. He tested positive on Wednesday, prompting a a massive contact-tracing exercise.

The source of Kumar's infection has not been ascertained as of now.

His condition is said to be stable and is currently under home-quarantine. At least 35 officials at the ministry’s HQ in South Block in Raisina Hills, have been asked to go on home quarantine after reports of Kumar testing positive for the infection, the report said.

The sources said all laid down protocols on contact-tracing and quarantining of people are being scrupulously followed.

It is learnt that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh did not attend office as part of a precautionary measure.

The offices of the defence minister, the defence secretary, the Army Chief and the Navy Chief are on the first floor of the South Block.

The total number of Coronavirus cases in India has surged past 2 lakh with nearly 9000 new cases reported on Wednesday. However, the Union Health Ministry has asserted that the recovery rate is constantly improving while the fatality rate is declining. In a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Joint Secretary Lav Agrawal said that India's fatality rate is one of the lowest in the world. "A total of 95,552 patients have recovered from the contagious disease. The recovery rate of corona patients in the nation is continuously improving and stands at 48.07 per cent now, up from 11.42 per cent on April 15," Agrawal said.

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