12 more jawans from the 138th unit of the Border Security Force, stationed at Ambassa in the Tripura’s Dhalai district have tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday, a day after two jawans were found to have been infected with the deadly virus.

With the 12 new cases, the total number of positive cases in the state rose to 16, of which 14 are active cases, two patients have recovered.

This was confirmed by Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Sunday evening. The Chief Minister further confirmed the current tally of Covid cases in the state stand at 16.

Chief Minister Biplab Deb further appealed to the people not to panic and that the situation is being handled in the best way possible.

“Alert! 12 persons from 138th #BSF unit Ambassa found #COVID19 positive. Total #COVID19 positive cases in Tripura stands at 16 (2 already discharged, so active cases : 14) Don’t panic, follow the Gov’t guidelines. We are working vigilantly for your safety. #TripuraCOVID19Count,” tweeted Tripura CM Biplab Kumar Deb.

COVID-19 Nodal Officer Dr Deep Kumar Debbarma said the newly identified coronavirus patients were kept in isolation inside the BSF camp itself at Ambassa in Dhalai district, about 120 km from here.

Debbarma said swabs of nearly 300 BSF personnel from the camp were collected for testing and reports would be coming on Monday.

According to latest reports, 527 persons are under quarantine in Tripura, including 111 in different institutional quarantine centres.

The state has tested 4,955 people for the virus so far, officials added.