More sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT CVN 71 currently in the western Pacific have tested positive for coronavirus and officials fear the number will continue to rise.
Friday 27th March the carrier called at Guam ( that it was previously scheduled already for maintenance ) days ahead of schedule in order to disinfect the ship, transport infected sailors to a local hospital and order more bulk testing of the crew. Till now there are 38 Navy sailors who have been infected with COVID-19 according to a statement.
Last Monday 23rd there were only 3 known cases aboard the carrier with a crew of 5,000. It marked the first U.S. naval vessel at sea to have infected people onboard.
“We expect additional positive tests,” Adm. Mike Gilday, chief of naval operations, said in a statement Thursday 26th March and none of the sailors infected so far are “seriously ill.” Like cruise ships, it’s nearly impossible to isolate sailors at sea or practice social distancing while launching F/A-18 Super Hornets from the flight deck or standing watch on the Nimitz Class carrier’s two nuclear reactors.
All images taken off Portsmouth, UK back to April, 2009.
Photos by Capt. Lawrence Dalli. Do not use these images without my permission. © All rights reserved. Malta Ship Photos & Action Photos – www.maltashipphotos.com
Published – Monday 30th March, 2020
