Navy hospital ships on alert for deployment, troops remain lower risk category

The Pentagon said the Navy’s two hospital ships are being readied for deployment in support of domestic medical needs on the East and West coasts, and despite reports from Italy, the Department of Defense has yet to see an increased rate of infection for the generally younger, healthier military population.

“The USNS Comfort and USNS Mercy are being paired for deployment to assist overwhelmed communities with acute patient care,” Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said at a Pentagon briefing Wednesday that followed Defense Secretary Mark Esper’s meeting at the White House with President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.