New Delhi, March 6 (IANS): Indian Army is establishing quarantine facilities across the country for 1,500 people after the Centre asked it to activate these facilities at earliest.

Seeing the number of cases detected across India, the Army have identified locations like Jaisalmer, Suratgarh, Secundrabad, Chennai and Kolkata for these quarantine centres.

Also in consonance with various advisories issued by the Centre, the Army Headquarters has issued detailed instructions with respect to preparations and emergency response in tackling Covid-19.

The latest advisory include detailed instructions for action at various military stations, army formations and service hospitals.

"Local military authorities will exercise suitable control to avoid/postpone all non- essential mass gathering like festivals, welfare activities and public gatherings till situation improves," it said.

Regular health information education and counselling activities will be carried out at all military stations, it said, adding that military hospitals will establish isolation wards and have separate OPDs for screening of symptomatic cases to prevent avoidable transmission.

Service hospitals will work in synergy with local civil medical authorities and designated ICMR labs, the advisory said.

The army also directed service personnel to be encouraged to utilise shopping complex facilities within the cantonment/military stations and avoid visits to crowded areas like movie halls/shopping malls etc.

It has also issued direction to avoid non-essential foreign travel.