Coronavirus Delhi: Narela quarantine facility was set up last month by the Delhi government.
A team of Army doctors and nursing staff has taken over the operations at a coronavirus quarantine centre in Delhi, one of the largest in India. The team of 40, which includes six medical officers and 18 paramedics, manages the isolation unit in northwest Delhi's Narela between 8 am to 8 pm; all of them have volunteered to stay at the facility.
Of those isolated at this unit, 932 are linked to the religious congregation held in south Delhi's Nizammudin last month by the Islamic sect Tablighi Jamaat. These include 367 coronavirus cases.
The Army has been assisting the Delhi government in managing the facility - set up last month amid a spurt in the coronavirus cases across the country - since April 1. Since Thursday, the team of 40 started managing the facility for 12 hours between 8 am and 8 am in a relief to the Delhi government doctors and other healthcare workers, who now ensure smooth functioning of the quarantine centre during the night.
"Initially 250 foreign nationals arriving from friendly foreign countries were kept in this centre, later an additional strength of approximately 1,000 more were brought here from Nizamuddin Markaz," reads an official statement.
The quarantine facility in Delhi's Narela is one of India's largest.
"The professional approach of the Army Medical Team has won the hearts of inmates, who have been very cooperative and positive to the Army Medical Team, thereby, facilitating smooth handling of all medical procedures. Presently 932 members from Markaz are being taken care in the facility and 367 out of them have been tested COVID positive," the statement adds.
"There has been tremendous synergy with Civil administration to run this entire facility. Army will continue to fight with resolve and determination to contribute wholeheartedly to the national efforts against the Corona pandemic for safety of all our citizens," it says.
Across India, more than 4,000 of over 15,000 COVID-19 are linked to the Nizammudin congregation, government said on Saturday. At least 500 people have died in the country due to coronavirus.