Over 100 soldiers on IDF base reportedly test positive for virus
Outbreak appears to be the largest in the military since start of the pandemic; overall, 1,164 military personnel are sick with COVID-19, 2 seriously
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Over 100 cases of the novel coronavirus have been found on an Israel Defense Forces base in the past day, according to a television report on Tuesday.
The outbreak on a training base used by the Kfir infantry brigade in the Jordan Valley would appear to be the largest single outbreak on an army base yet, according to Channel 13.
Some 400 soldiers have been sent into quarantine, the report said.
The military, in a statement to the station, confirmed that 100 soldiers tested positive for the virus, though it said the cases were discovered over the past few weeks. It said the infected soldiers were taken to another site to recover.
“The incident is being handled by and investigated by commanders in coordination with the Medical Corp and IDF, while taking care of the health of the soldiers and servicemen in the brigade,” it said.
The IDF said that overall, 1,164 soldiers and military personnel are actively sick with COVID-19, most of them mild. Two people are in serious condition. The army said 10,867 soldiers are in quarantine.
Two weeks ago, the IDF said that a number of officers were disciplined and two cadets were expelled from a course over a coronavirus outbreak at an officer training base in the south of the country. According to the IDF, a number of protocols were broken that were put in place to prevent such an event, including the soldiers belatedly reporting symptoms and a failure to question cadets on their health.
The Times of Israel Community.