Vital assets like ships, submarines must remain free from coronavirus: Navy chief to personnel

As COVID-19 continues to spre across world, Indian Navy Chief miral Karambir Singh told his personnel on Thursday that vital operational assets such as ships and submarines must remain free from virus and armed force is rey to assist or countries in Indian Ocean region.

" coronavirus pandemic is unprecedented and it has never been seen before. Its impact has been extraordinary across globe, including India," he said in a video mess to all Navy personnel. 

danger posed by this disease is real, imminent and unprecedented, he ted.

India is under a 21-day lockdown till April 14 to curb coronavirus pandemic.

"We need to double our efforts to ensure that our personnel and ir families continue to remain safe...We also have to make sure that our operational assets, especially ships and submarines, remain free from virus," Singh said.

"It is a very difficult task as physical-distancing on ships and submarines is a challenge...I would also request you to wear your masks at all times," he ted.

Singh listed steps that were taken by Indian Navy to deal with virus such as stopping recruitment, putting a halt on transfers and movements of sailors and officers, and changing training set up.

Around 13 lakh people have been infected globally and more than 70,000 deaths have occurred due to virus.

"se are difficult times. Many of you are separated from your families. Some personnel's parents are in vills and y need help....But I can say with satisfaction that our personnel and our community has risen to occasion proactively," he said.

"Our ships and aircraft are on standby to support government and civil ministration. We are rey to extend support t only to our country but to Indian Ocean region nations, island territories of our country," navy chief said.

COVID-19 challenge is t over and it is only going to intensify in days and weeks ahe, he said, ding that Navy will be required to furr augment its preparedness.

Large scale disinfection of public areas, supporting movement between states, being rey to assist local law and order, preparing makeshift vehicles for medical support, establishing quick response teams that can do contact tracing of naval community as COVID-19 positive cases rise -- se are steps that Navy would have to take, said Singh.

"We need to be rey for worst case scenario. And to my mind, it is going to be a long battle. We have decided that once lockdown is over, movement of personnel will happen in a coordinated manner. We should t do movements in rush," he said.

"If situation worsens, we will have to be rey to create alternate areas where mass isolation and quarantine can be done," he ted.