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COVID-19 pandemic on naval ships

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The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic spread to many military ships. The nature of these ships, which includes working with others in small enclosed areas and a lack of private quarters for the vast majority of crew, conributed to the rapid spread of the disease, even more so than on cruise ships.[1][2]

Due to the nature of operations security, national militaries may have policies in place that prevent or restrict reporting of SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19 deaths, so although the cases listed below may have been widely reported in reliable sources, confirmation by official spokespeople of the respective militaries is not systematic.[3]

Summary of confirmed cases

Military ship incidents with confirmed positive cases
§ Ship Crew Tests Cases[a] Dead Docking date Docking location
Dock Country
§ United States USS Boxer 2[4] none[b][5] Naval Base San Diego[c][5] USA
§ United States USS Essex 1[d]
§ United States USS Ralph Johnson 1[7] none[b][8] Naval Station Everett[e][8] USA
§ United States USS Coronado 1[9] none[b][10] Naval Base San Diego[c][10] USA
§ United States USS Carl Vinson 1[11] none[f][11] Puget Sound Naval Shipyard[g][11] USA
§ United States USS Theodore Roosevelt 5,000[12] 94%[13] 678[13] 1[13] 27 March 2020[14] Guam[12] USA
§ Belgium Leopold I 1[h] 27 March 2020[15] Zeebrugge[15] Belgium
§ United States USS Ronald Reagan 2[18] none[b][19] Yokosuka Naval Base[i][18] Japan
§ Netherlands HNLMS Dolfijn 58[20] 15[20] 8[20] 3 April 2020[20] Den Helder[20] Netherlands
§ United States USNS Comfort 1[21] none[j][22] Pier 90[k][22] USA
§ United States USS Nimitz 2[l][23] none[m][24][12] Puget Sound Naval Shipyard[g][24] USA
§ United States USNS Mercy 7[13] none[j][25] Port of Los Angeles[n][25] USA
§ France Charles de Gaulle
France Chevalier Paul[o] 		1,760[31]
200[28] 		≥2010[p] 1046[30]
≥35[q] 		12 April 2020[33][34] Arsenal de Toulon[33][34] France
§ Taiwan ROCS Pan Shi 337[35] 337[r] 24[36] 15 April 2020[s][35] Zuoying Naval Base [zh][37] Taiwan[35]

Belgium

Leopold I

Leopold I in 2014

On 25 March, Belgian Defense reported that a crew member of the Belgian frigate Leopold I had tested positive.[38] The sailor had been evacuated via air to Den Helder on 20 March after he began showing symptoms, and was quarantined at home when the test returned positive on 24 March.[15][16][17] As a precaution, the ship broke off from its operation with the French carrier battle group led by Charles de Gaulle and returned to Zeebrugge, its home port, on 27 March, about a month earlier than planned.[15][39]

France

Carrier battle group of Charles de Gaulle

See also: 2020 coronavirus pandemic on Charles de Gaulle
Charles de Gaulle on 24 April 2019
Chevalier Paul on 15 July 2017

Because about 40 crew members were beginning to show symptoms, the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle returned to its home port in Toulon earlier than planned, as reported on 8 April 2020 by the Ministry of Armed Forces.[40][41] Other ships that were part of the carrier battle group also began to return to their home ports.[34]

After 66 sailors aboard Charles de Gaulle were tested, the ministry announced on 10 April that 50 tests had returned positive.[42] Three sailors were evacuated by air to Saint Anne Army Teaching Hospital [fr].[42][43]

The carrier had been on a months-long mission leading a carrier battle group when its first coronavirus case was reported.[39][17] Another ship participating in the mission, Belgium's Leopold I, had broken off to return to port weeks earlier due to a case of coronavirus being found on board.[17]

On 12 April 2020, the National Navy reported that Charles de Gaulle and accompanying air-defense frigate Chevalier Paul had returned to Toulon, while command and replenishment tanker Somme and anti-submarine frigate La Motte-Picquet had returned to Brest.[34] The 1700 sailors of Charles de Gaulle and 200 sailors of Chevalier Paul were subsequently quarantined for two weeks.[27][28]

On 15 April, the Ministry of Armed Forces reported that, out of the 1,767 tests that had been conducted on the members of the carrier battle group so far, 668 had returned positive.[27][t] The vast majority of these cases were aboard Charles de Gaulle, and the remainder of the cases were reported to be aboard Chevalier Paul.[27][28][29][34]

On 17 April, Maryline Gygax Généro [fr], Central Director of the Military Health Service, reported to the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Armed Forces Committee [fr] that all 2300 sailors of the carrier battle group had been tested upon their return to Toulon, and so far, 940 had tested positive while 645 had tested negative.[u][26] On the same day, Florence Parly, Minister of the Armed Forces, reported to the National Assembly's National Defense and Armed Forces Committee [fr] that 2010 sailors of the carrier battle group had been tested, with 1081 tests returning positive so far.[32] The Navy clarified that, on the Charles de Gaulle itself, the final number was 1046 positive cases out of 1760 tested.[30]

In total, 545 sailors had shown symptoms and 24 had been hospitalized an the Saint Anne Army Teaching Hospital, including 2 admitted to the ICU.[32][30]

Netherlands

HNLMS Dolfijn

HNLMS Dolfijn in 2013

On 30 March, the Ministry of Defence reported that eight crew members of the Dutch submarine HNLMS Dolfijn had tested positive.[20] Out of 58 crew members, 15 sailors with mild symptoms were tested.[20] The submarine changed course near Scotland to return to the Netherlands two weeks early, arriving in Den Helder on 3 April.[20][44]

Taiwan

ROCS Pan Shi

ROCS Pan Shi in 2015

On 18 April 2020, Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung reported that three naval cadets, interning on one of the ships of the Dunmu fleet [zh], had tested positive for coronavirus.[v][35] All three cadets were in their 20s, with one case showing symptoms as early as 12 April before seeking medical attention on 15 April, when the ship returned to Taiwan.[35] There were 337 people aboard the same ship as the cadets.[35] Over 700 sailors serving in the three-ship fleet have been placed in quarantine.[46]

A Dunmu fleet is formed annually, and this iteration of the Dunmu fleet was formed on 20 February 2020 consisting of the following three ships:

The three cadets had boarded the ship on 21 February, and the fleet left Zuoying Naval Base [zh] on 5 March 2020 for a goodwill visit with Palau.[35][37][45] The fleet stayed at Palau from 12 March to 15 March 2020, although the size restrictions at the port in Palau meant that only Kang Ding entered the port.[37] After departing Palau, the fleet remained at sea for roughly a month before returning to Zuoying Naval Base on 15 April.[s][45][37]

On 19 April, Taiwan announced that a further 21 sailors of the Dunmu fleet had tested positive, bringing the total number of cases to 24.[36] All 24 cases were found aboard Pan Shi.[47]

The goodwill mission has been criticized for pictures of sailors not wearing masks appearing on social media.[47] Vice Admiral Mei Chia-Shu [zh], Navy Deputy Commander, stated that as Palau had no reported cases of coronavirus at the time, such a decision was made after consulting with Taiwan's embassy in Palau.[47]

United States

USS Boxer

USS Boxer in 2005

The coronavirus pandemic was reported to have spread to the American amphibious assault ship USS Boxer when its first presumptive positive case was reported on 15 March 2020.[5] This was reported as the first case for a sailor aboard a United States Navy ship.[5] The sailor subsequently quarantined at home.[5] A second sailor tested positive on 17 March 2020 and also quarantined at home.[4]

USS Essex

USS Essex in 2008

The coronavirus pandemic was reported to have spread to the crew of the American landing helicopter dock USS Essex when its first case was reported on 17 March.[6] The sailor had been attending a course at Naval Base San Diego since 6 February 2020 when the test returned positive on 14 March.[6] The student subsequently self-isolated at home.[6]

USS Ralph Johnson

USS Ralph Johnson in 2017

On 17 March 2020, United States Pacific Fleet reported that a crew member of the American destroyer USS Ralph Johnson had tested positive the previous day.[7] USS Ralph Johnson was at its home port in Everett, Washington at the time, and the sailor self-isolated at home.[7][8]

USS Coronado

USS Coronado in 2016

On 17 March 2020, United States Pacific Fleet reported that a crew member of the American littoral combat ship USS Coronado had tested positive that day.[9] USS Coronado was at its home port in San Diego, California at the time, and the sailor self-isolated at home.[9][10]

USS Carl Vinson

The coronavirus pandemic was reported to have spread to the crew of the American aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson when its first case was reported on 23 March 2020.[11] At the time, the ship was in dry dock at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, and it was reported that "the sailor did not board the vessel and had no contact with any shipyard personnel".[11]

USS Theodore Roosevelt

Main article: 2020 coronavirus pandemic on USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71)
USS Theodore Roosevelt in 2005

The coronavirus pandemic was reported to have spread to the American aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt when its first three cases were reported on 24 March 2020.[48] As of 20 April 2020, 678 crewmembers have tested positive, with one fatality.[13]

USS Ronald Reagan

The coronavirus pandemic was reported to have spread to the American aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan when its first two cases were reported on 27 March 2020.[49][50] The positive cases forced the closure of the naval base outside Tokyo where the carrier is based, with all personnel on base told to stay indoors for 48 hours.[49]

USNS Comfort

USNS Comfort in New York Harbor

The coronavirus pandemic was reported to have spread to the American hospital ship USNS Comfort when its first case was reported on 7 April 2020.[21] Also, although the ship arrived in Manhattan on 20 March with the intention of treating patients for ailments other than coronavirus so that local hospitals could concentrate on coronavirus cases, officials announced on 7 April that the ship's mission had changed and 500 of the ship's 1,000 beds would be allocated for severe coronavirus cases.[22] In addition, as all crew members had tested negative before the ship set sail from Virginia and no crew had left the ship since arriving in New York, it was unclear how the crew member, who is not a medical worker and had no contact with patients, got infected.[21]

USS Nimitz

The coronavirus pandemic was reported to have spread to the American aircraft carrier USS Nimitz when its first case was reported on 7 April 2020.[23][51] One sailor received a positive result the previous week after exhibiting symptoms, and was subsequently placed in isolation and removed from the ship.[23] Another crew member has also tested positive, but is reported to have not been working on the ship.[51]

USNS Mercy

The COVID-19 pandemic spread to the US navy hospital ship USNS Mercy when its first case was reported on 8 April 2020.[25] It is unclear how the crew member became infected, as the crew member had not interacted with any patients, all crew members had been screened before boarding the ship in San Diego and had not been allowed to leave the ship since, and the ship was only treating patients for ailments other than COVID-19, requiring a negative SARS-CoV-2 test result before any patient was allowed to board the ship.[25][52][53]

As of 14 April 2020, 7 medical staff members had tested positive, and the Navy had removed 116 medical staff members from the ship in response.[53]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ As reports may not be clear on whether crew members who tested positive had been on the ship while sick, this number includes all crew members assigned to the ship regardless of whether they had been on the ship while sick, and a footnote is added if one or more crew members were reported to not have been on the ship at the time.
  2. ^ a b c d Ship was already docked at home port.
  3. ^ a b San Diego, California
  4. ^ The sailor had been attending a course at Naval Base San Diego since 6 February 2020 when the test returned positive on 14 March.[6]
  5. ^ Everett, Washington
  6. ^ Ship was already docked at home port for maintenance.
  7. ^ a b Bremerton, Washington
  8. ^ The crew member had been evacuated via air on 20 March after he began showing symptoms, and was quarantined at home when the test returned positive on 24 March.[15][16][17]
  9. ^ Yokosuka
  10. ^ a b Ship was already docked to carry out its mission.
  11. ^ Manhattan, New York City
  12. ^ One crew member who tested positive was reported to not have been working on the ship.
  13. ^ Ship was already docked at home port prior to deployment.
  14. ^ San Pedro, Los Angeles, California
  15. ^ These two ships were reported to have positive cases, but it is unclear if any other ships of the carrier battle group also had positive cases, or if any of the soldiers assigned to the carrier air wing are counted separately from the carrier itself.[26][27][28][29][30]
  16. ^ One government source states 2,010 while another states 2,300.[32][26]
  17. ^ Initially, the carrier group was reported to have 1081 positive cases with some results inconclusive, but it was later reported that 1046 positive cases is the final number for those on board Charles de Gaulle.[32][30]
  18. ^ All 744 members of the fleet were tested.[36]
  19. ^ a b One source mentions that the fleet actually returned to the base on 9 April 2020, and the soldiers were placed in isolation for six days before they were allowed to disembark on 15 April.[37] It is unclear whether the ship docked before, during, or after the isolation period.
  20. ^ 30% of the tests were still inconclusive at the time.[27]
  21. ^ Her exact words were "Sur les 2300 marins du groupe aéronaval autour du porte-avions Charles de Gaulle, tous testés à leur retour à Toulon, 940 ont été testés positifs, 645 négatifs, les autres résultats de tests n'étant pas encore connus".[26]
  22. ^ Taiwan has numbered them Cases 396, 397, and 398.[45]

References

  1. ^ Faturechi, Robert; Rose, Megan; Miller, T. Christan (16 March 2020). "After Discovering a Sailor With Coronavirus, the U.S. Navy Crowded Dozens into One Room". Propublica.org. Retrieved 8 April 2020. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |last-author-amp= ignored (|name-list-style= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ Gafni, Matthias; Garofoli, Joe (31 March 2020). "Exclusive: Captain of aircraft carrier with growing coronavirus outbreak pleads for help from Navy". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 8 April 2020. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |last-author-amp= ignored (|name-list-style= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ Dickstein, Corey. "Pentagon orders installations to stop reporting coronavirus cases as military-linked infections eclipse 1,000". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Second Sailor assigned to USS Boxer (LHD 4) Tests Positive for COVID-19" (Press release). United States Navy. 18 March 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Sailor assigned to USS Boxer (LHD 4) Tests Presumptive Positive for COVID-19" (Press release). United States Navy. 15 March 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  6. ^ a b c d Affairs, This story was written by Navy Education and Training Command Public. "Navy School Closed After Third COVID-19 Case". United States Navy.
  7. ^ a b c Affairs, From U. S. Pacific Fleet Public. "USS Ralph Johnson Sailor tests positive for COVID-19". cpf.navy.mil.
  8. ^ a b c "USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114) history". uscarriers.net.
  9. ^ a b c Affairs, From U. S. Pacific Fleet Public. "USS Coronado Sailor tests positive for COVID-19". cpf.navy.mil.
  10. ^ a b c "USS Coronado (LCS 4) history". uscarriers.net.
  11. ^ a b c d e Farley, Josh (23 March 2020). "USS Carl Vinson sailor tests positive for novel coronavirus". Kitsap Sun. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  12. ^ a b c Gains, Mosheh; Griffith, Janelle (26 March 2020). "Coronavirus outbreak diverts Navy aircraft carrier to Guam, all 5,000 aboard to be tested". NBC News. Retrieved 26 March 2020. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |last-author-amp= ignored (|name-list-style= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ a b c d e "U.S. Navy COVID-19 Updates". Navy Live.
  14. ^ "The Battle of USS Theodore Roosevelt: a Timeline". Defense One.
  15. ^ a b c d e https://www.mil.be/fr/article/contamination-au-coronavirus-le-leopold-i-reste-quais
  16. ^ a b News, Flanders (25 March 2020). "Corona infection on board Belgian frigate Leopold I". vrtnws.be. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  17. ^ a b c d Gros-Verheyde, Nicolas (10 April 2020). "Covid-19. Did Belgium make the right choice by interrupting the Foch mission".
  18. ^ a b Doornbos, Caitlin (30 March 2020). "Report: Two Yokosuka sailors who tested positive for coronavirus are assigned to USS Ronald Reagan". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  19. ^ "U.S. aircraft carrier hit by virus, forces lockdown on base in Japan". Kyodo News+. 28 March 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h Defensie, Ministerie van (30 March 2020). "Zr.Ms. Dolfijn breekt reis af vanwege corona – Nieuwsbericht – Defensie.nl". defensie.nl.
  21. ^ a b c Schwirtz, Michael (7 April 2020). "Crew Member Aboard U.S.N.S. Comfort Is Infected With Coronavirus". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  22. ^ a b c "The U.S.N.S. Comfort Is Now Taking Covid-19 Patients. Here's What to Expect". The New York Times Magazine. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  23. ^ a b c Bertrand, Natasha; Seligman, Lara (7 April 2020). "Sailor aboard 4th U.S. aircraft carrier tests positive for coronavirus". Politico. Retrieved 8 April 2020. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |last-author-amp= ignored (|name-list-style= suggested) (help)
  24. ^ a b Farley, Josh (2 April 2020). "Aircraft carrier Nimitz prepared for quarantine as pandemic continues". Kitsap Sun. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  25. ^ a b c d "A Dispatch From the U.S.N.S. Mercy". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  26. ^ a b c d https://www.senat.fr/presse/cp20200417g.html
  27. ^ a b c d e https://mobile.twitter.com/Armees_Gouv/status/1250513114161909763
  28. ^ a b c d https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/societe/coronavirus-au-moins-500-marins-du-charles-de-gaulle-positifs-au-covid-19-1586960222
  29. ^ a b http://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20200416-twenty-sailors-hospitalised-after-covid-19-hits-french-aircraft-carrier-charles-de-gaulle-coronavirus
  30. ^ a b c d e https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/sante-sciences/coronavirus-1-046-marins-contamines-sur-le-charles-de-gaulle-bilan-definitif-1587221219
  31. ^ "French Aircraft Carrier Returns To Port After Suspected COVID-19 Cases Found Aboard". NPR. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  32. ^ a b c d https://www.defense.gouv.fr/actualites/articles/florence-parly-s-exprime-devant-les-deputes-de-la-commission-de-la-defense-nationale-et-des-forces-armees
  33. ^ a b "Coronavirus : le Charles-de-Gaulle à Toulon, 1.900 marins à répartir à l'isolement". Europe 1.
  34. ^ a b c d e https://mobile.twitter.com/MarineNationale/status/1249427536242708491
  35. ^ a b c d e f g https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202004180005
  36. ^ a b c https://www.cdc.gov.tw/Bulletin/Detail/KhUvbPOgGj6kcpHd4ONypA?typeid=9
  37. ^ a b c d e f https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/paper/1366932
  38. ^ "Twitter". Twitter.
  39. ^ a b "French Carrier Strike Group Begins 'Foch' Deployment". 22 January 2020.
  40. ^ "Coronavirus : plusieurs cas suspects à bord du porte-avions français Charles-de-Gaulle" [Coronavirus: several suspected cases on board the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle] (in French). France 24. 8 April 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  41. ^ "French aircraft carrier heads home early due to possible COVID-19 cases". Reuters. 8 April 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  42. ^ a b "Coronavirus : 50 cas de contamination à bord du "Charles-de-Gaulle", trois marins évacués". Le Parisien (in French). 10 April 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  43. ^ "France Reports 50 COVID-19 Cases Aboard Aircraft Carrier". The New York Times. Reuters. 10 April 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  44. ^ https://www.nhniews.nl/nieuws/264964/onderzeeboot-met-door-corona-besmette-bemanning-aangekomen-in-den-helder
  45. ^ a b c https://www.cdc.gov.tw/En/Bulletin/Detail/hl5GDpwYhOclf8GTrR_GcQ?typeid=158
  46. ^ https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3918628
  47. ^ a b c https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202004190012
  48. ^ Eckstein, Megan (24 March 2020). "UPDATED: 8 Sailors on USS Theodore Roosevelt Have COVID-19; Port Calls Canceled as Navy Investigates Outbreak". USNI News. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  49. ^ a b Tomlinson, Lucas (27 March 2020). "More than 30 coronavirus cases on Pacific aircraft carrier, new ones discovered on another carrier in Japan: officials". Fox News Channel. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  50. ^ Keller, Jared (29 March 2020). "A second aircraft carrier is reportedly facing a COVID-19 outbreak". taskandpurpose.com. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  51. ^ a b Pawlyk, Oriana (7 April 2020). "Nimitz Becomes 4th Aircraft Carrier with COVID-19 Case: Report". military.com. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  52. ^ Kim, Soo (9 April 2020). "USNS Mercy Crew Member Tests Positive for Coronavirus While Hospital Ship Docked in Los Angeles". Newsweek. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  53. ^ a b "Navy removes 116 from hospital ship USNS Mercy after virus infects seven". Stars and Stripes.
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