NDRF reports first COVID-19 case; 43 fresh infections in CAPFs

An official of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been found positive for coronavirus, the first case such being detected in the federal contingency force, officials said on Friday.

They said the sub-Inspector rank official was on leave and had gone to a doctor for some dental treatment, following which his COVID-19 test was done.

The NDRF official has been admitted to an isolation ward in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) Referral hospital in Greater Noida on Thursday.

The official is posted in the headquarters of the force here and was on deputation from the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), they said.

The NDRF, raised in 2006, is a 12-battalion strong force of the central government for disaster response and its over 40 teams are currently deployed in Odisha and West Bengal for relief and rescue works in the wake of cyclone 'Amphan'.

The CAPFs, which comprises CRPF, ITBP, BSF, CISF and SSB, reported 43 fresh cases since Thursday.

The Border Security Force (BSF) reported 24 fresh cases on Friday, out of which seven personnel are posted at the headquarters of the about 2.5-personnel strong paramilitary in Delhi.

"All the fresh cases have been reported from Delhi and they work in various establishments of the force."