NEW DELHI: The Army has reported its first confirmed case of coronavirus at Leh, forcing a virtual lockdown of the Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre there, even as the force has established extensive quarantine facilities at Jaisalmer and Jodhpur after Manesar to together provide for 1,600 civilians.The first soldier to test “positive” is a 34-year-old jawan whose father had returned from a pilgrimage from Iran on an Air India flight on February 27. The jawan, who was on casual leave to his Chuchot village, and his father, who too has tested positive, have been “isolated” at the SNM hospital at Leh. His wife, sister and two children have also been quarantined.The Army has banned all entry and exit from the Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre at Leh, which houses over 500 personnel, as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the deadly virus. “Around 10 other soldiers who had interacted with the jawan at the Centre have also been quarantined, while additional measures are also being taken to identify suspect cases,” said an officer.The Army, Navy and IAF, which together have over 14 lakh personnel, have already directed all formations and units to stop all non-essential mass gatherings like festivals, welfare activities and parties as well as travel to foreign countries. All non-essential courses and training programmes have also been cancelled in view of the coronavirus outbreak.With the defence ministry deploying resources in the aid of civilian authorities, IAF aircraft have evacuated hundreds of Indian nationals and others belonging to friendly countries like Maldives, Myanmar , Bangladesh, US, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa and Peru from COVID-19 affected countries such as China, Japan, Italy and Iran.These evacuated persons are being kept under quarantine for a period of 14 days in the “Wellness Centres” established by the three Services at different locations. After the Army set up the quarantine centre at Manesar to handle 300 the Indian students being evacuated from China in January, it has now established two more such facilities. While the Wellness Centre at Jaislamer can handle 750 people, the Jodhpur one is geared up for 550.“Nearly two battalions of troops have vacated their living accommodation/barracks for setting up these national level facilities, which include hygienic living and dining facilities, outdoor and indoor sports facilities, entertainment and even the facility for performing of religious rituals,” said the officer.“At Jaisalmer, 289 citizens evacuated from Iran are under quarantine since March 15-16. Another 195 people reached Jaisalmer on Wednesday,” he added. The armed forces have also readied additional facilities at Kolkata, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Kochi , Dundigal, Bengaluru, Kanpur, Jorhat and Gorakhpur if the need arises.