Defense secretary tests coronavirus positive, part of South Block sealed
What's the story
Defense Secretary Ajay Kumar tested positive for coronavirus and is quarantining at his home, reports said. The 1985-batch IAS officer is the first top bureaucrat to have contracted COVID-19.
Following strict protocols, a part of the South Block on the Raisina Hill complex, Delhi, was sealed for sanitization.
The Defense Ministry is yet to comment on the development.
Here are more details.
What happened
He had mild fever, tested positive on Tuesday
Reports said Kumar was feeling unwell for the last couple of days and also had a mild fever. He got himself tested and the results came on Tuesday. He will remain in home quarantine until he tests negative.
Kumar's office was at the first-floor section of South Block, which is being thoroughly cleaned.
Nothing is being taken frivolously, officials in the know said.
Tracing
35 officials have been sent to home quarantine
At least 35 officials were sent to home quarantine after the report arrived. According to HT, the Chief of Defense Staff, General Bipin Rawat, and tri-service chiefs may not have come in his direct contact in the last four days.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh didn't attend office on Wednesday, though he is discharging his duties like earlier.
Singh's office is also on the first floor.
Do you know?
Kumar actively spoke about government's initiatives
Kumar was active on social media and till June 1, was telling people about government initiatives in the battle against coronavirus. Meanwhile, a joint secretary at Law Ministry reportedly caught the infection. The driver of a joint secretary at the Culture Ministry also tested positive.
Data
India registered biggest single-day spike, again
Delhi's cases are surging by the day and reached 23,645 on Thursday. 615 people have died so far in the National Capital, making it the third worst-affected state after Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
A record 9,304 people tested positive for coronavirus in India in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of infections to 2.2 lakh.
Over 6,000 have died of the virus.