Photo via U.S. Navy.
OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 1:38 PM PT — Thursday, March 26, 2020
The U.S. Navy has reported five more sailors on board the USS Theodore Roosevelt have tested positive for COVID-19. Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly made the announcement during Thursday’s press briefing at the Pentagon.
He explained these sailors will be flown off the Roosevelt, which was bound for Guam. The secretary also noted that 5,000 crew members on board are currently being tested for the virus.
“It’s going to be a combination of whatever we have available for us to do that,” said Modly. “I know the small ships don’t have the ability to test on board, but it’s my understanding that on the larger ships, we do have the ability to do some limited testing on board.”
LIVE: @SECNAV and top @USMC officials provide a #COVID19 update. https://t.co/9CrrUBAPZv
— Department of Defense ?? (@DeptofDefense) March 26, 2020
On Tuesday, three sailors on the same vessel became the first reported coronavirus cases on a Navy ship at sea.
At least 133 members in the Navy and 44 in the Marine Corps have tested positive for the virus.
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