Defense Department officials have declared the Pentagon Reservation “a safe place to work” because of downward trends in local infection rates and hospitalizations. But a Thursday email sent to defense reporters revealed that a journalist had tested positive for the coronavirus, as well as two others who attended the same briefing on June 25.
“The reporter is not a member of the ‘resident’ Pentagon press corps that works here on a daily basis, and was only here for the briefing,” the email sent to Pentagon journalists read.
Nonetheless, the email advised that those concerned should get tested.
The message comes one day after Pentagon officials declared that the reservation will enter phase two of its reopening plan with a further return of teleworking staff members.
“We’re seeing a return of the workforce,” said Tom Muir, director of Washington Headquarters Services for the Pentagon, noting that 72% of those who work at the Pentagon are civilians.
Muir declined to provide the specific number of infected individuals on the reservation, which includes the main Pentagon building and its associated offices in the Washington area.
“I can tell you that our numbers are significantly less than our surrounding communities,” he said. “The Pentagon is a safe place to work.”
Muir said the decision to open the Pentagon further was based on tracking health conditions in a 50-mile radius.
Muir also said Pentagon employees are asked to wear a cloth face covering when they cannot maintain a 6-foot distance and those entering the building without a face mask are provided one.
“If you walk the halls of the Pentagon here, you’ll see nearly 100%,” he said. “There may be one or two exceptions, but that’s because they’re taking a sip of coffee or something.”
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Thomas McCaffrey acknowledged that military personnel are testing positive at increased rates in hot-spot states.
“Not surprisingly, we’re seeing some uptick in our cases in terms of infection largely around where we’re seeing [that] in the civilian communities,” he said, describing trends in Florida, Texas, Arizona, and some parts of California.
In accordance with the Pentagon’s tiered system of testing service members, McCaffrey said more soldiers who are not showing symptoms are being tested, revealing a greater number of asymptomatic people.
But the Pentagon is not “seeing material increases in hospitalization of our active duty or employees,” he said. He added that only 57 Pentagon personnel are currently hospitalized with the infection.
As of Thursday, 18,071 military personnel have tested positive for the coronavirus, with 8,683 having recovered. Across active duty, dependent, civilian, and contractors, 38 people have died of the virus, including three active-duty service members.
McCaffrey said “a big chunk” of positive tests are proving asymptomatic, but those personnel are still capable of spreading the disease.
