Union Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar tests positive of Covid19; Extensive contact tracing commences

DELHI: Union Defence secretary Ajay Kumar, on Wednesday tested positive of coronavirus following which the defence ministry carried out a massive contact-tracing exercise to eliminate any chances of virus transmission.

Ajay Kumar got himself tested for Covid-19 after developing mild fever and was found to be infected of the virus. Notably, Kumar is the first top government official to test positive for the disease.

Ajay Kumar , 1985 batch Indian Administrative Service officer of the Kerala cadre, is the current Union Defence Secretary of India.

It has been found that atleast 35 officials working at the ministry came in close contact with the defence secretary over the last couple of days and they all have been put into home quarantine.

Reportedly, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh did not attend office as part of a precautionary measure. Sources said all laid down protocols on contact-tracing and quarantining of people are being scrupulously followed. 

India has now climbed to the seventh spot in the global list of top 10 countries with the most covid-19 cases. India has over 200,000 infections and more than 5,000 deaths.