Navy Times by Carl Prine 2/27/2020
Pacific Fleet orders at least 14-day underways for ships visiting nations in 7th Fleet AOR as coronavirus spreads
U.S. Pacific Fleet commander Adm. John C. “Lung†Aquilino has directed all vessels visiting nations in the 7th Fleet area of operations “to remain at sea for at least 14 days before pulling into another port in order to monitor sailors for any symptoms" of COVID-19, a new and deadly strain of the coronavirus.
Aquilino’s unclassified Wednesday order is part of a larger Navy effort to control the spread of a disease that emerged in China’s Wuhan City last year and now has been detected in 37 locations internationally, including cases in the United States.
On Tuesday, a U.S. soldier stationed in South Korea became the first service member to test positive for the virus but Navy officials insist no personnel in the sea service have shown signs of the disease.
Previous Pacific Fleet directives have included instructions on how to detect the disease in crews and the steps medical teams should take to treat the illness and prevent its outbreak.
The latest measure is designed to better protect the force while also safeguarding allies, partners and friends of the United States from potential infection.
More:
https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2020/02/27/pacific-fleet-orders-at-least-14-day-underways-for-ships-visiting-nations-in-7th-fleet-aor-as-coronavirus-spreads/
