Ladakh: 2 more people test positive for coronavirus, bringing total to 8

The eight infected persons include a soldier, making him the first Coronavirus case in Indian Army, sources said, adding that the Army has quarantined all the soldiers who came in contact with the Ladakh Scouts jawan.

''We have received results of 34 samples, of which two tested positive,'' spokesperson for Ladakh UT Rigzin Sampheal said on Wednesday.

He said infected persons are relatives of the earlier positive cases and were under quarantine. ''They have been kept in isolation wards now,'' he said, adding with these two, the total number of positive cases have rose to eight.

Sources said that 34-year-old soldier tested positive for the infection in Leh. ''The soldier, a resident of Chuhot village in Leh, came in contact with his father, who had returned from a pilgrimage in Iran by an Air India flight on February 20 and tested positive for the virus,'' they said.

Three people were tested positive for coronavirus in the results which came on Monday.

Giving details of the three cases, Sampheal said one case was recorded from Sangkoo in Kargil district.

''Following the development, the Kargil administration imposed restrictions under section 144 CrPC in the district,'' he said.

''We have appealed people to come forward if they have come in contact with the affected people or have any symptom of the disease. They should come to the district hospital and get themselves checked,'' he added.

Sampheal said all the affected persons have been kept in isolation wards. ''One patient from Sangkoo was already in isolation as his mother was a suspect,'' he said.

He said one case from Leh is of a person, who is relative of an earlier patient. ''One of our medical staff voluntarily admitted himself in isolation wards on Monday night,'' he added.