Indian Army postpones 90 training courses in view of coronavirus threat

Amid the threat of coronavirus outbreak, the Indian Army on Tuesday decided to immediately postpone 90 different courses involving officers and jawans across the country.

"All large congregations involving close personal contact are to be avoided and public gatherings are to be postponed. Between the period from March 16 to April 15, a total of 90 courses are to commence which involves movement of 6,000 personnel including officers, Junior Commissioned Officers and other ranks from various units and formations to category A establishments," senior Army sources told ANI.

"Orders have been issued that all courses of institutions scheduled to commence up to April 4 at Category A Establishments for officers and jawans are to be postponed with immediate effect," they said.

The Army will review the situation arising due to COVID-19 at the end of this month.

Sources said the postponement of courses includes the ones where male and female cadets were to start training at the Officers' Training Academy in Chennai.

The cadets who had gone back to their homes during midterm break have also been asked to report late in view of the coronavirus.

The armed forces have prepared quarantine facilities for 15,000 citizens across the country to handle the pandemic threat.