The coronavirus also affects Italian soldiers engaged in missions abroad. Three Army soldiers and an Air Force soldier stationed in Herat, Afghanistan, tested positive at Covid 19: "they are fine", assures the Defense General Staff. The operation of the contingent of about 700 men - included in the NATO Resolute Support mission, training the Afghan security forces - is, "at the moment", guaranteed.
It is the Defense General Staff that reports that the military has tested positive for Covid 19. However, it is immediately specified, the four were already in preventive quarantine (as required by NATO directives for this mission) at the time of their entry into operating theater, while they had negative results at the screening carried out in Italy on departure. "They therefore had no contact with the field personnel," says Defense, which immediately activated the assistance procedures envisaged. The four soldiers began the period of isolation and health surveillance at the Herat base, during which treatment will be provided by the contingent's medical staff.
The Italian Command ensures that "in no way at the moment", this situation has reduced the operations of the contingent, which "continues to operate regularly within the NATO Resolute Support mission aimed at guaranteeing assistance, advice and training for the Afghan Security Forces ".