Amid surge in COVID-19 cases, Army reduces staff strength in offices by 50 per cent

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 16

With a spike in COVID-19 infections in the country, the Army has ordered that physical attendance in offices be reduced to 50 per cent with immediate effect. Further, officers and staff who will be attending office will stagger timings of attendance.

“In view of the unprecedented rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in certain [parts of the country, it is important to take measures to prevent the spread. Accordingly measures will be taken depending upon local epidemiological situation,” orders issued today by the Directorate-General of Medical Services at Army Headquarters state.

Meetings and conferences as far as possible are to be done through video-conferencing and crowding in common places is to be avoided.

As far as military hospitals are concerned, the orders also state that medical examinations and medical boards, including that for annual examination, medical reclassification and recruitment, are to be suspended temporarily.

Essential medical services such as maternal, newborn and child health, prevention and management of communicable diseases, treatment of chronic conditions, emergency surgeries and emergency management would continue to be provided with appropriate spatial and temporal segregation from earmarked COVID areas in the hospitals.

Military hospitals have also been directed to have a staffing pattern in place, including contingency plans to maintain continuity of service by carrying out a 7-10 days rotation of all hospital staff. Visitors to hospitals are to be curtailed and an appointment system where possible is to be insinuated.

Formation commanders, station commanders and commanding officers of units have been asked to make COVID care centers functional so as to reduce the load of asymptomatic and mild cases in hospitals. Training activities would be conducted while taking all COVID-19 related precautions, the order adds.