A US Navy special warfare operator has tested positive for the coronavirus

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A US Navy special warfare operator has tested positive for the coronavirus
Navy SEAL Buds training

US Navy/Petty Officer 1st Class Abe McNatt

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US Navy SEAL candidates during Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training in Coronado, California, January 23, 2018.

  • A US Navy sailor who was training at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor in Washington state tested positive for the new coronavirus.
  • The unnamed petty officer 2nd class, who is assigned to the Naval Special Warfare Command, is under isolation and prohibited from traveling.
  • Fellow service members who were also in contact with the diagnosed troop have also been quarantined at the base "out of an abundance of caution."
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A US Navy sailor who was training at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor in Washington state tested positive for the new coronavirus, the military announced on Thursday.

The unnamed petty officer 2nd class, who is assigned to the Naval Special Warfare Command, is under isolation and prohibited from traveling. Fellow service members who were also in contact with the diagnosed troop have also been quarantined at the base "out of an abundance of caution."

"US Special Operations Command and the Navy are committed to taking every measure possible to protect the health of our force," a Naval Special Warfare Command statement said. "We remain in close coordination with local agencies, base tenant commands, and public health authorities to ensure the well-being of our personnel and the local community."

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The Navy Special Warfare Command (NSWC), the service's special operations force, described the ongoing coronavirus pandemic as being "not business as usual."

"We know that some of you are anxious, concerned, and wondering what's next for you and your loved ones," NSWC commander Rear Adm. Collin Green said in a statement, adding that "the NSW family pulls together to face difficult challenges, and we will do our part to mitigate this threat."

Sailors in numerous Navy fleets have tested positive for the coronavirus. At least two sailors assigned to the USS Boxer in San Diego tested positive, in addition to one sailor assigned to the USS Ralph Johnson in Washington, and another sailor from the USS Coronado in San Diego. All of the sailors are being quarantined.

The Navy implemented sweeping changes to address the influx of cases around the world. The Navy's 6th Fleet, which primarily operates around Europe and Africa, imposed a 14-day quarantine on ships between port calls in Europe. The guidance follows a similar one for 7th Fleet, which operates in the Asia-Pacific region, out of "an abundance of caution."

The Navy Reserve also postponed drill weekends through May and limited unofficial travel.

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"Shipmates, the spread of the coronavirus is something that we are taking very seriously," Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Russell Smith said in a joint statement. "While many of you may be anxious, worried, or wondering what happens next, leadership at every level is actively engaged on this issue."

As of Thursday evening, the US reported 195 deaths from the coronavirus. Over 13,600 cases have been reported in all 50 states and US territories.

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