OREANDA-NEWS. Against the backdrop of a pandemic, the Alliance is checking for coronavirus its military personnel involved in NATO missions abroad, including in Afghanistan and Kosovo. This was announced on Monday by the NATO press service.

"NATO, along with other international organizations, is closely monitoring the outbreak of coronavirus infection (COVID-19), and all NATO countries are taking preventive measures. NATO's medical personnel are vigilant in monitoring any potential impacts to NATO personnel deployed as part of the operations", the press service said.

At present, NATO’s largest missions are “Strong Support” in Afghanistan, numbering about 16,000, and the KFOR security mission in Kosovo. At the NATO headquarters in Brussels, three cases of infection were detected, a significant part of the staff was sent to work from home, for all external visits, including for journalists, the alliance's headquarters is closed.

In an interview with Italian media, he also said that NATO "guarantees not only military but also sanitary security", but said nothing more specific about the possible support of Italy from the alliance and its member countries.