Defence boss tests positive - Rajnath and the army and navy chiefs are working from home as part of precautionary measures

Defence secretary Ajay Kumar (Picture courtesy: Twitter/@SIDMIndia)

Imran Ahmed Siddiqui, TT, 5.06.20, New Delhi: Defence secretary Ajay Kumar has tested positive for Covid-19, sources in the defence ministry said.

Kumar, a 1985-batch Kerala-cadre IAS officer, is the first top bureaucrat to have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The development has triggered concern at South Block, the seat of the defence ministry on Raisina Hills.

“Kumar had developed fever and got himself tested. His test result came on Wednesday and he was found to be infected with the coronavirus,” an official said.

“Kumar’s condition is stable and he is currently in home quarantine,” the official added.

The first floor of South Block, where Kumar’s office is located, is being sanitised. Defence minister Rajnath Singh, the army chief and the navy chief also have their offices on the first floor.

Sources said Rajnath, the army and navy chiefs and some senior bureaucrats have not been coming to office since Wednesday as part of precautionary measures and are working from home.

“All laid-down protocols on contact tracing and quarantining people are being strictly followed,” the official said.

So far there has been no official comment on Kumar’s health. The defence ministry spokesperson refused to comment on the issue.

It is also not clear if other senior bureaucrats, military officials and ministers whom Kumar had come in contact with have been tested so far.

“At least 30 people who had come in close contact with the defence secretary over the past couple of days have been told to go into home quarantine,” the official added.