The sudden spike in COVID-19 cases in the Navy has come days after Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh said that caregivers cannot become care seekers and urged his people to remain safe.
"The COVID-19 positive patients include 20 sailors of INS Angre, a shore establishment at Mumbai. Most of these are asymptomatic and have been traced to a single sailor who was tested positive on 07 April," Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said.
"They all reside in the same accommodation block at INS Angre. All primary contacts, though asymptomatic, were tested for COVID-19. The entire inliving block was immediately put under quarantine - containment zone and INS Angre too is under lockdown," he stated.
All actions as per established COVID-19 protocols are being taken by the Navy after this sudden spike.
"There are no cases of infection onboard ships and submarines and Indian Navy continues to actively support the National effort in the fight against COVID-19," the Navy said.
A total of 120 people live in the building in which the first infected sailor was staying and 68 people have been tested, so far.
The Navy has now shifted the infected personnel to their INS Ashwini Navy Hospital in Mumbai for treatment.
Navy officials said the number of infected personnel may go up as the test results of many personnel are still awaited.
( With inputs from ANI )