INS Shivaji: 12 out of 157 trainee sailors found COVID positive till now

Pune, June 23, 2020: INS Shivaji, Lonavla, is a premier training establishment of the Indian Navy, entrusted with the responsibility of imparting training in the domain of Marine Engineering to Officers and Sailors of the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and other friendly foreign navies.

“With the easing of lockdown as per Unlock 1.0 in the first week of Jun 2020, a batch of 157 trainee sailors who were undergoing training at this Establishment and were on extended leave view lockdown, reported back. In accordance with extant orders, the batch of trainee sailors on reporting from outstation were also put through a series of mandatory screening procedures upon their entry into the Establishment and thereafter quarantined for 14 days in one of the institutional quarantine facilities prepared in the Unit. Subsequently, one of the trainee sailors of the said batch under quarantine was found to be symptomatic during the quarantine period and found positive for COVID-19 on 18 Jun 2020.

Further, all the other high risk contacts who are staying in that particular quarantine facility are being tested as per extant procedure and necessary medical support is being provided. A total of 12 out of 157 trainee sailors have been found Covid positive as on date. Since the infection is contained to one particular quarantine block, the possibility of spread of infection to other areas/personnel of the Establishment is negligible, however, all precautions have been instituted to obviate further spread.

All precautions/ instruction/ directions issued with respect to COVID-19 by the Government of India and Indian Navy, from time to time, are being strictly adhered to. All personnel in the base are already maintaining the required precautions against COVID-19″, stated a press release from the defence PRO.