Some sailors attempting to walk back onboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt are showing new signs of the virus that sidelined the ship more than a month ago, despite testing negative for Covid-19.
The Navy began moving hundreds of sailors back onto the ship last week after crew members spent more than a month in quarantine or isolation, but a small number have shown a fever or other symptoms of Covid-19 during pier side checks before embarking, Navy spokesperson Lt. Rachel McMarr told POLITICO.
Those sailors were retested on the pier, and all tested negative. But "out of an abundance of caution," the sailors are being isolated on base until their symptoms subside, McMarr said.
"These sailors will be reevaluated after their symptoms clear before they are allowed on the ship," she said, adding no sailors currently on the ship are showing flu-like symptoms.
The news is the latest setback for the crew after an outbreak of Covid-19 forced it to halt its Pacific deployment and dock the ship in Guam on March 27. The Navy planned to begin returning sailors to the ship between April 20-25, but was forced to delay the move as crew members continued to test positive for the virus even after completing their observation period.
Meanwhile, the Navy continues to weigh the fate of Capt. Brett Crozier, the Roosevelt's former commanding officer who was fired in early April. Senior officials recommended reinstating Crozier after completing a preliminary inquiry into the incident, but the Navy ultimately opted to open a new, broader investigation.
All sailors on board are provided an N95 mask that must be worn at all times except when sleeping, showering or eating. However, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines state that N95 masks are safe for up to eight hours, leaving sailors concerned that they will be forced to use an expired mask for the remainder of the deployment.
"As far as I know, this is our mask at least for a while because they told us we have to stretch it out," said one sailor aboard the ship.
McMarr said the CDC recommends a cloth mask for non-surgical or industrial settings. The N95 masks are being provided to Roosevelt sailors "out of an abundance of caution" and are being replaced as needed, she said. Commercially-produced cloth masks will be delivered to the ship as well, she added.
McMarr declined to say when all sailors will be returned to the Roosevelt or when the ship plans to pull away and resume its deployment. The sailors are returning to the ship in waves, according to the Navy.
"The plan for USS Theodore Roosevelt is conditions-based, not timeline-based," McMarr said. "We remain focused on the health and safety of our Sailors, and ensuring the full recovery of all Sailors onboard USS Theodore Roosevelt."
As of last Thursday, 1,102 sailors had tested positive for Covid-19, or almost a quarter of the crew, and three were in the hospital. One sailor has died. The Navy has since stopped providing the number of active cases.
The sailors who tested positive for the virus have spent the past month isolated in various locations on U.S. Naval Base Guam, including schools and gymnasiums. The sailors who tested negative have been quarantined in hotel rooms and houses across the island. To return to the ship, each sailor must have completed a quarantine or isolation and test negative twice. However, some sailors have tested positive even after weeks of isolation and after testing negative previously.
Pacific Fleet commander Adm. John Aquilino and Fleet Master Chief James Honea visited the ship, as well as some of the sailors still on Guam, on Friday to show support for the crew.
“I am incredibly proud of the ongoing effort to get this crew healthy and take back their ship,” Aquilino said. “TR has laid the foundation for a 'get well' road map for the Navy to refine as we continue to learn about operating in this evolving environment.”
The Roosevelt began its deployment Jan. 17.
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USS Theodore Roosevelt sailors still showing virus symptoms despite month of isolation - POLITICO
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