India’s defence secretary tests positive for COVID-19, contact tracing ongoing

As the cases of COVID-19 rise in India, the country’s defence secretary becomes first top government official to test positive for the virus, reported Hindustan Times on Wednesday.

Ajay Kumar, the secretary, had developed mild fever and got himself tested for COVID-19, which came positive. He is under home quarantine, two people familiar with the development were quoted by the newspaper saying on Wednesday on the condition of anonymity.

It is reported that he was tested positive on Tuesday but his condition is stable and he will stay at home till he tests negative.

Officials have also told the newspaper that necessary contact tracing is being carried out in the case of the defence secretary to identify people he may have recently come in contact with and who may now be in the high-risk category.

The administration is sanitising the first-floor section of the South Block of Parliament in which Mr. Kumar has his office.

Other than Mr. Kumar, officials were quoted saying that a joint secretary in the law ministry, the driver of a joint secretary in the culture ministry have also tested positive for the virus. While as, a few days ago, a section officer in the coal ministry died of the virus.

India has total of 2,08,000 positive cases of COVID-19 and over 5800 have died.

KW