Readiness Implications of Coronavirus Infections on U.S. Navy Ships
Abstract
In early 2020, a highly infectious respiratory disease, COVID-19, swept across the world. The disease affected nearly every aspect of human activity, specifically anything that required close contact with other people for a prolonged period. COVID-19 appeared to be most deadly for people who are older and/or have comorbidities. But even among young and healthy people, it sometimes took unexpected and fatal paths. The active-duty U.S. Navy primarily comprises young and healthy people but, by its nature, requires crew members aboard its ships to be in close proximity over a period of weeks and months. Unsurprisingly, COVID-19 outbreaks have occurred on Navy ships. Although the Navy has generally refrained from releasing ship names, the most widespread and extensive outbreak was on USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) beginning in March 2020, one of the earliest months of the pandemic. The outbreak occurred while the ship was deployed in the Western Pacific and required a ten-week period pier side in Guam. A subsequent investigation by the Vice Chief of Naval Operations of the chain of command actions with regard to COVID-19 onboard the ship determined that the ineffective implementation of social distancing and premature release of sailors from quarantine were the primary causes of increased infection. This was attributed to the USS Theodore Roosevelt leadership not effectively implementing mitigation measures for the majority of their crew, allowing social gathering areas to remain open, and continuing to perform urinalysis testing for illegal substances that should have been considered nonessential during the outbreak. Additionally, the leadership prematurely released sailors from quarantine because conditions there were crowded, and they believed that the quarantine caused more sailors to become infected.1The way the outbreak was handled became a major embarrassment for the Navy and raised questions about its readiness to address a public health challenge.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1148328
Entities
People
- Bradley Martin
- Trupti Brahmbhatt
Organizations
- RAND Corporation