The Jammu and Kashmir government has exempted Defence and Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel returning to duty in Jammu and Kashmir from compulsory Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) tests for coronavirus (COVID-19), and administrative quarantine.
The exemption has been made through an order signed by Chief Secretary B.V.R. Subrahmanyam.
The order reads that the J&K government laid down protocol for 100 per cent RT-PCR testing, and quarantine, of all incoming passengers by train, road or air to Jammu and Kashmir. It says the protocol also specifies certain categories to be exempted from the compulsory administrative quarantine. In exercise of the powers conferred under section 24 of the Disaster Management Act of 2005, the defence and CAPF personnel are exempt from compulsory RT-PCR testing and administrative/institutional quarantine in any facility authorised by the government of Jammu and Kashmir.
Jammu and Kashmir has been battling rising cases of coronavirus. To date, 32 people have died of the infection and around 1,700 have tested positive for the virus.
