The Pentagon reported an increase of more than 250 active-duty members of the military testing positive for the coronavirus since Friday, while the Marine Corps has temporally suspended transferring recruits to Parris Island.
The overnight total number of service members with the COVID-19 virus now stands at 569.
Across the department, 1,043 people are currently sick, up from 613 on Friday. That number includes 220 civilians, 190 dependents, and 64 contractors. An additional 14 service members have also been hospitalized since Friday, bringing that number up to 26.
No additional personnel have recovered over the weekend, leaving the number of infected personnel who have recovered at 34.
Meanwhile, the Marine Corps took a step back from its hard-line stance on preserving readiness just a week ago to call for additional precautions to slow the rapid spread of the virus.
“We’ve paused this week’s shipping of new recruits to Parris Island and will revise our overall shipping plan to ensure we are able to meet the nation’s needs while protecting its next generation of Marines,” said Gen. David Berger, commandant of the Marine Corps in a statement, referring to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in South Carolina.
Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said Thursday at the Pentagon that two Marines at Parris Island had tested positive for COVID-19 and were in quarantine.
“Both of those Marines worked in offices independent and separate from the recruit-training locations,” he said.
Berger followed at the same briefing with a firm stance on Marine Corps readiness.
“Our force has to be ready to respond when we’re given the direction to do so. So you need to conduct a training that’s necessary to maintain your readiness,” he said. “The Marine Corps is unique. And we are mandated by law to be the nation’s most ready force, and that’s what I think you expect us to be.”
But the Marine Corps will now scale back, according to Monday’s statement.
Recruit training for individuals already at the depot will continue as planned, with continued emphasis on personal and environmental cleanliness and social distancing, the Marine Corps said.
