A crew member of the USS Theodore Roosevelt died from health complications after testing positive for the coronavirus.
The U.S. Navy announced on Monday that the sailor on the Nimitz-class, nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, who was not identified, died from coronavirus-related complications after being transferred to the intensive care unit at U.S. Naval Hospital Guam.
“The Sailor tested positive for COVID-19 March 30, was removed from the ship and placed in an isolation house on Naval Base Guam with four other USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) Sailors. Like other Sailors in isolation, he received medical checks twice daily from Navy medical teams,” read a statement from the Office of the Navy Chief of Information.
“At approximately 8:30 a.m., Apr. 9 (local date), the Sailor was found unresponsive during a daily medical check. While Naval Base Guam emergency responders were notified, CPR was administered by fellow Sailors and onsite medical team in the house. The Sailor was transferred to U.S. Naval Hospital Guam where the Sailor was moved to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The Sailor was declared deceased April 13,” the statement added.
The Navy said the identity of the sailor would remain anonymous until 24 hours after his or her family was notified.
“The entire department is deeply saddened by the loss of our first active duty member to COVID-19. Our thoughts are with the family of the USS Theodore Roosevelt sailor who lost his battle with the virus today,” Defense Secretary Mark Esper said in a statement. “We remain committed to protecting our personnel and their families while continuing to assist in defeating this outbreak.”
Former acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly resigned after giving a speech last week to ship crew members condemning Capt. Brett Crozier, the commanding officer of the USS Theodore Roosevelt who was relieved of duty after a letter in which he pleaded to military leadership to act faster to protect his crew from the coronavirus leaked to the media.
Crozier was met with a roar of cheers from his sailors earlier this month as he was escorted off the aircraft carrier after the 5,000-person crew docked in Guam for testing.
The USS Roosevelt has reportedly had 550 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including Crozier, who was diagnosed with the illness after being relieved of the ship’s command.
