Five American sailors have tested positive for Covid-19 for a second time after resuming duty aboard an aircraft carrier that saw a major outbreak in March, even after a full evacuation of its crew and months of deep cleaning.
Though the Navy imposed several layers of screenings before allowing sailors to re-board the ill-fated USS Theodore Roosevelt – where more than 1,000 personnel contracted the virus in March – the five seamen nonetheless tested positive again after returning to the ship, the military confirmed on Thursday.
“Five [Theodore Roosevelt] sailors who previously tested Covid positive and met rigorous recovery criteria have retested positive,” Navy spokesperson Commander Myers Vasquez said in a statement, adding that the sailors were “immediately removed from the ship and placed back in isolation.”
The five sailors developed influenza-like illness symptoms and executed their personal responsibility by reporting to medical for evaluation.
Some 18 others who came in close contact with the infected sailors have also been taken off the ship and placed into quarantine “out of an abundance of caution,” a US official told CNN.
Also on rt.com ‘We have too many ships at sea’: Pentagon says more Theodore Roosevelt-level coronavirus outbreaks are possibleThe Roosevelt made international headlines after its outbreak in March – by far the largest on a US warship to date – and was again thrust into the spotlight after its captain, Brett Crozier, penned a dire letter directly to Navy leadership urging for a full evacuation of the ship’s crew. Though the captain’s request was ultimately granted and the Roosevelt was allowed to dock in Guam for quarantine, the Navy quickly removed Crozier from his post, arguing his letter violated the chain of command. Of the more than 1,000 sailors infected on the ship – including Crozier himself – one died in the outbreak.
At least 26 US warships in total have detected the virus among their crews, according to the Navy, the latest being the USS Kidd, a guided missile destroyer with nearly 100 infected sailors. Much like the Roosevelt – which had to abandon its mission in the South China Sea – the Kidd was stricken while patrolling the Eastern Pacific on a ‘war on drugs’ mission targeting Venezuela, and forced to return to port in San Diego.
Also on rt.com The US’ Covid-19 death toll is soaring, but it keeps wasting billions on overseas military ops. Is that what taxpayers want?Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!
Source : RT - Daily news
US sailors return to coronavirus-hit aircraft carrier only to test positive AGAIN, despite months of containment efforts
US sailors return to coronavirus-hit aircraft carrier only to test positive AGAIN, despite months of containment efforts
