The amphibious transport ship is at the berth in Bahrain, and all positive cases have been isolated on board. The ship remains in a bubble restricted to Covid.
In addition, the USS Philippine Sea has several people “under investigation” for possible Covid-19, according to a statement from the 5th US Fleet. The guided missile cruiser is expected to arrive in port for further testing of anyone who may have been exposed. The location of the port will not be released, said the 5th Fleet.
Confined spaces are vulnerable to outbreaks of the virus, as seen last year on the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, when almost 20% of the ship’s crew tested positive for Covid-19. Within weeks of the outbreak, more than 1,000 crew members from 4,900 Roosevelt members tested positive, prompting the Navy to evacuate most of the crew to Guam.