Nearly Two Dozen U.S. Sailors on Aircraft Carrier Test Positive for Coronavirus
The Navy confronted a mounting crisis at sea as least 23 sailors aboard an aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean, the USS Theodore Roosevelt, have tested positive for novel coronavirus, defense officials said.
Despite the spread of the illness, the USS Theodore Roosevelt will continue operating and airlifting those who test positive, the officials said. The number of those stricken has risen rapidly. Earlier this week, the Navy announced that three sailors aboard the ship tested positive.
The sailors visited Vietnam more than two weeks ago during a port visit and may have contracted the virus there, Navy officials said. Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said earlier this week the sailors also could have contracted the virus from another source such as flight crew from a visiting aircraft.
In all, 280 U.S. service members have tested positive for the virus.