A Coast Guard ship on a counternarcotics watch returned to its homeport Wednesday after 11 members of its 133-person troupe tested positive for the coronavirus, officials said.
What We Know:
- The USCG (United States Coast Guard) Cutter Stratton left Coast Guard Base Alameda, California on Oct. 28 on what was deemed to have been an estimated seven-week patrol in the Eastern Pacific.
- The Coast Guard reported about two weeks later, on Nov. 11 and Nov. 12, some crew members began to exhibit signs of Covid-19. Covid-19 symptoms present themselves as fever, cough, shortness of breath, weakness, and chills. More information about symptoms can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website under coronavirus symptoms.
#COVID19 Outbreak on Coast Guard Vessel Cuts Short Counter-Drug Patrol: https://t.co/2IBHlKhOAz
— NBC DFW (@NBCDFW) November 19, 2020
- The team members were given rapid Covid-19 tests and they and their known close contacts were quarantined. The Coast Guard stated the crew members with the virus have mild symptoms and are receiving medical care.
- A spokesperson for Coast Guard Pacific Area, Lt. Cmdr. Stephen Brickey stated that the outbreak’s source was not exact but that Coast Guard medical officials are handling contact tracing with the crew to identify it.
- The Stratton is now back at Coast Guard Base Alameda. Before departing, the crew members sustained a period of self-quarantine and all passed two coronavirus tests given by Coast Guard medical faculty members.
- Bob Little, the Stratton’s commanding officer, stated:
“The crew’s health and safety is my highest priority, Stratton has a highly resilient crew, always dedicated to the mission. Our mission today is to get healthy so we can continue our service to the nation.”
We hope that all the United States Coast Guard members who are infected recover fast and return to patrol soon.
