US Navy's Ship's Crew Quarantined after Sailor Suspected of Coronavirus

All crew members onboard US Navy’s USS Boxer (LHD-4) amphibious assault ship have been quarantined after a sailor tested “presumptive positive” for the Coronavirus Disease, COVID-19.

On Sunday, the Navy announced that the sailor assigned to the warship tested “presumptive positive,” meaning, the patient tested positive by a local public health laboratory but results are still pending confirmation at a Center for Disease Control (CDC) lab.

“The individual is currently quarantined at home in accordance with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention guidelines. The test result is considered presumptive positive, pending confirmation by the CDC,” the Navy said in a statement.

Personnel that the individual immediately identified having close contact with have been notified and are in self-isolation at their residences. None of them is aboard the ship currently.

“USS Boxer is taking appropriate preventative measures and conducting a thorough cleaning in accordance with specific guidance from the CDC and Navy-Marine Corps Public Health Center,” the Navy said.

Earlier on Sunday, the Pentagon issued a new “stop movement” guidance that places strict limits on the movements on service members, military civilians and their dependents. “The restrictions come as the COVID-19 virus has infected 10 active-duty service members, a civilian, eight dependents and two contractors,” a defense official was quoted as saying by USNI.

As of today, there are 170,000 confirmed cases and 6,500 deaths from the COVID-19 infection in over 125 countries worldwide.