WASHINGTON (Agencies): To add insult to injury of the tragic human loss of the coronavirus epidemic, the world is scrambling to figure out the best way to avoid grave impacts on the economy, markets, tourism and now also security.
The highly contagious disease has now become a threat for armies worldwide, recently hitting the military forces of the U.S, Greece, Egypt, Italy, the U.K. and Northern Cyprus.
The militaries of Israel, Syria, China and Armenia are also among the countries fighting against the Covid-19.
The Pentagon on Friday reported a total of 652 coronavirus cases: 343 on active military duty; 135 civilians; and 111 dependents and 63 contractors, thus leading infection cases among militaries across the globe.
At least four service members of the NATO-led Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan tested positive for the coronavirus last week. Visitor access to NA-TO headquarters had alre-ady been restricted to limit the spread of the virus.
Additionally, Reuters has reported that thousands of U.S. military personnel are in quarantine or in self-isolation in Europe and the Middle East due to either exposure to someone infected or recent travel to high-risk locations.
Poland’s Chief of General Staff General Jaroslaw Mika and The Philippines’ military chief General Felimon Santos Jr were also diagnosed with the novel coronavirus.
The coronavirus known as COVID-19 emerged in Wuhan, China last December and has spread to at least 177 countries and territories.
The number of confirmed cases worldwide is nearing 738,000, while the death toll has surpassed 35,000, and over 156,500 have recovered so far, according to data compiled by U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University.
Despite the rising number of cases, most who become infected suffer only mild symptoms and recover.
