National Security

‘On the fly’: Pentagon brass changing USS Roosevelt coronavirus testing protocols

By Abraham Mahshie

Published April 1, 2020 9:39pm ET

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‘On the fly’: Pentagon brass changing USS Roosevelt coronavirus testing protocols — FILE - In this April 13, 2018, file photo the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier is anchored off Manila Bay west of Manila, Philippines. The captain of the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier facing a growing outbreak of the coronavirus is asking for permission to isolate the bulk of his roughly 5,000 crew members on shore, which would take the warship out of duty in an effort to save lives. The ship is docked in Guam.

Nearly 100 sailors have been sickened by COVID-19 on the Pacific carrier USS Roosevelt, which is docked in Guam, where it is removing and testing sailors at a rate of about 500 per day.

“A lot of this, we’re adjusting on the fly,” said acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly at a Pentagon press briefing Wednesday, noting that sailors are being removed and that housing is being identified for them in Guam.

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Tag:

COVID-19 Department of Defense (Department of War) Guam Navy Pacific Ocean Pentagon