Four more sailors from the USS Theodore Roosevelt have been hospitalized as a result of COVID-19. One is in an intensive care unit, according to Navy officials. Yesterday, the TR's crew saw the first COVID-related death among its crew.
USS Theodore Roosevelt sailor found unresponsive dies in ICU from COVID-19
The now-deceased sailor was found unresponsive in his isolation quarters last week Thursday. He was moved to ICU and died of COVID-related complications Monday morning.
"The sailor tested positive for COVID-19 March 30, was removed from the ship and placed in an isolation house on Naval Base Guam with four other USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) sailors," a Navy press release reads. "Like other sailors in isolation, he received medical checks twice daily from Navy medical teams."
On the morning of April 9, when the sailor was found unresponsive, fellow sailors administered CPR.
"The sailors aren't by themselves. They have buddy systems. It's not just waiting for the medical folks to come out every 12 hours," Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General John Hyten said during a Pentagon press briefing on Thursday. "They've got buddies around them all the time. This particular one happened from night to morning but there were buddies around and the buddies found him."
The name of the sailor is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
"The entire Department is deeply saddened by the loss of our first active duty member to COVID-19," Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said in a statement. "Our thoughts are with the family of the USS Theodore Roosevelt sailor who lost his battle with the virus today. We remain committed to protecting our personnel and their families while continuing to assist in defeating this outbreak."
The COVID-19 situation onboard the USS TR developed quickly. On March 23, the aircraft carrier reported 3 COVID-19 cases. Within days that number had grown to 25. The ship's captain, Brett Crozier, took desperate measures to expedite aid to the sailors on board. He was relieved from duty days later.
SECNAV offers resignation following USS Theodore Roosevelt uproar
Former Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly, who dismissed Crozier, has since resigned after facing backlash for his decision and subsequent comments about the captain.
Approximately 85 percent of the vessel's close to 5,000-member crew has been evacuated. Almost 600 USS TR sailors have now tested positive for COVID-19.
The Navy continues to outpace all other branches with confirmed COVID-19 cases.
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Follow Elizabeth Howe on Twitter @ECBHowe.
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