The Indian Army has decided to put personnel rejoining work into three categories - red, yellow and green, to ensure more effective screening of any possible Covid-19 case.

With several personnel rejoining work now in a phased manner, guidelines have been circulated for smooth functioning of the force while taking all precautions.

Those who have completed a 14-day quarantine will be put in the green category. Those who need to be in 14-day quarantine will be in the yellow category. The personnel who are found to be symptomatic will be in the red category and will be sent in isolation to a Covid-19 hospital for further treatment.

The process will be applicable to all those who are returning from leave, courses or temporary duties. All such personnel will need to complete a 14-day quarantine, the army said.

These measures are a part of fresh instructions in the backdrop of 26 Indian Navy personnel were found Covid-19 positive in Mumbai recently.

Those on leave will rejoin on receipt of specific instructions from authorities that granted leave, officials said.

Any individual who leaves the station, and is within 500 kms of duty station, is allowed to directly report to unit using private transport only.

Individuals who do not fall within the 500 kms criteria will report to the nearest station headquarter in a private vehicle only.

All ranks of Northern and Eastern Commands and all Army Medical Corps, Army Dental Corps and Military Nursing Services personnel have been given the highest priority for rejoining work.

It has been advised that personnel from Nepal presently on leave will remain at their home stations till the situation in Nepal stabilises and borders reopen for movement.

The Army has clarified that orders for reporting will not apply to personnel living in 'Hotspots/Containment Zones'.

"Individuals in Hotspots/Containment zones will follow strict 'No Movement' till the areas are de-notified as Containment zones. The leave granting authorities will decide on the use of the exception of areas officially declared as 'Hotspots/ Containment Zones' by the Central/State government," the Army stated.