Coronavirus Outbreak: US Navy's Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier Diverted After Dozens Aboard Test Positive

KEY POINTS

USS Theodore Roosevelt is the first American warship to have confirmed cases of COVID-19
The warship has almost 5,000 soldiers aboard and with only 800 test kits
“No one on the crew will be allowed to leave anywhere into Guam other than on pier-side," Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly said.

The U.S Navy on Thursday confirmed that it has diverted the course of the navy’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, to the U.S. island territory of Guam after dozens aboard were found to be infected with the coronavirus.

With 25 sailors aboard testing positive for the virus as of Thursday, Roosevelt is the first American warship to have confirmed cases of COVID-19.

"There were three crew members who initially tested positive, there were five more that were flown off the ship or in the process of being flown off the ship, and then there are several others that are in isolation right now," Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly said Thursday in a press conference at the Pentagon.

The warship has almost 5,000 soldiers aboard and with only 800 test kits and limited laboratory capacity, the medical team is finding it hard to get everyone tested. The shortage will be compensated soon as the Navy plans on testing everyone aboard.

"We are already starting the process of testing 100 percent of the crew to ensure that we've got that contained," said Modly.

He also emphasized that the ship is “operationally capable” and can do its mission if “required to do so.”

Meanwhile, the ship will be pulling into Guam, a U.S. island territory in Micronesia, in the Western Pacific. The ship will stay on the pier-side and will restrict the crew from crossing the boundaries of the pier-side.

“No one on the crew will be allowed to leave anywhere into Guam other than on pier-side," he said.

Modly confirmed that the Navy has tested a total of 133 COVID-19-positive cases as of Thursday, which includes 104 active duty military, 23 civilians, 16 dependents, and 19 contractors.

The Navy alone accounts for nearly half of the U.S. military's 280 reported cases.

“We are continuing to take actions across the force to prevent the spread of the disease, contain any potential outbreaks and recover the force as quickly as possible,” Modly added.