Over 100 soldiers test positive for coronavirus on IDF training base
In light of the incident, 60 surprise inspections are expected on bases across the country.
By ANNA AHRONHEIM, EVE YOUNGIDF Cheif of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi speaks with troops in the new “Ghost” multi-dimensional combat unit(photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S OFFICE)
Over 100 soldiers have tested positive for coronavirus on the IDF Kfir Brigade's training base.There are over 400 soldiers in quarantine on the base, and more of them are expected to test positive for the virus.The sick soldiers are being sent to coronavirus treatment facilities, the IDF Spokesperson's Unit told The Jerusalem Post. "The incident is being handled and investigated by commanders and according to the Medical Corps and the IDF's procedures, out of concern for the health of the soldiers and those who serve in the brigade," the Spokesperson's Unit said. Some 60 tests were performed on the base on Tuesday, 50 of which were positive. IDF sources said that if the capsule method is followed rigorously, there should not be such serious outbreaks – and they should not be occurring across multiple platoons, as they currently are.Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi visited the base just last week in a surprise inspection due to it being listed as a "red base." In light of the incident, 60 surprise inspections are expected on bases across the country.The outbreak comes after the military disciplined several officers including the commander of the Bahad 1 officers training academy after an outbreak hit the school.The August outbreak saw 30 cadets infected with the deadly coronavirus after two soldiers who had been on furlough returned to the base and did not inform their commanders of their health.They later tested positive for the virus, sending dozens of other cadets into a tent complex that had been set up for quarantine.The other cadets who were later diagnosed are believed to have contracted the virus after they met with the first two cadets, this despite them having met in different capsules, a system in place to limit exposure to other people.
Results of the investigation into the incident were presented by the school’s commander Col. Guy Levy to Deputy Chief of Staff Maj.-Gen. Eyal Zamir, head of the IDF’s Ground Forces Maj.-Gen. Yoel Strick and Commander of the military's Training and Doctrine Division Maj.-Gen. Moti Baruch.According to the findings of the investigation, the reason behind the outbreak was due in part to the late reporting of symptoms by the two cadets who returned to base sick, as well as neglect by their superiors to properly question the cadets about their health.Following the investigation, Strick stressed the importance of maintaining IDF's readiness, in addition to keeping its personnel healthy.The IDF said on Monday night that 1,164 service members have been diagnosed with coronavirus, all of them in light condition. Another 10,867 are in quarantine.
