Madhya Pradesh: Covid cases in Mhow War College rise to 37

MHOW/INDORE: The number of Covid cases in Army War College (AWC), Mhow, rose to 37 late Thursday night. The campus remains in total lockdown, with civilian movement halted in and out of the Army area.
Health authorities are sending 17 of these samples to NCDC for genome sequencing. Among those infected are trainee officers and directing staff. They are all fully vaccinated and asymptomatic.
District nodal officer for Covid, Dr Amit Malakar, said, “We have sent 20 samples for genome sequencing, including 17 of army officers.The decision for genome sequencing was taken after 37 Army officers tested positive in the last three days in the cantonment area.”
On the second day of the complete lockdown of the AWC campus, no movement was allowed to and from the compound. The authorities have started large-scale sampling in the vicinity of the cantonment. “Continuous screening is being carried out in the Army area by Mhow Military Hospital teams, as per the protocol,” Indore CMHO Dr BS Saitya told TOI.
Mhow block medical officer Dr Faizal Ali said, “For the last two days, the health department is carrying out random sampling of people working at shops, banks, business establishments and restaurants that are frequented by military officers. Around 100 samples have been sent for tests.” Contact history of the infected officers is being traced to limit the spread of the virus, he added.
The officers who have tested positive were part of a study group of 115, who attended a higher command course, touring the Western and South Western Commands.