Covid-19: 122 men from single CRPF battalion in Delhi test positive

Bharti Jain | TNN | Updated: May 2, 2020, 12:03 IST

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NEW DELHI: As many as 122 personnel of CRPF’s 31st battalion based at Mayur Vihar have tested positive for Covid-19 so far. The swabs of all personnel based at the battalion’s Mayur Vihar facility were subjected to testing following the death of a sub-inspector and 46 other personnel having tested positive.
The primary source of the infection within the battalion is suspected to be a nursing attendant who had joined duty on April 7 after leave and was advised only a five-day quarantine — as against the 14-day period advised by health ministry — by Director (Medical) of CRPF. Though his quarantine was extended by 5 more days, CRPF suspects it was not enforced strictly, which may have led to the infected nursing staff coming in contact with other personnel in common facilities like canteen/toilets.
The 122 positive cases in the 31st battalion constitute around one-third of the total 368 test results that are in. The results of 112 of the total 480 personnel tested are still awaited.
CRPF officers told TOI that the all the 122 Covid-19-positive personnel are lodged at the Mandoli quarantine centre run by Delhi government. These infected personnel are largely symptomatic, they added.
The battalion’s facility at Mayur Vihar was sealed after the death of a sub-inspector earlier this week and all troops quarantined. The personnel who have tested negative are being observed during the quarantine period and will undergo repeat testing as per laid down health protocols.