A U.S. Navy sailor aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt has died from complications related to the coronavirus, Navy officials said Monday.
More than 580 crew members aboard the coronavirus-stricken aircraft carrier are infected with COVID-19, with 92% of the sailors aboard having been tested for the coronavirus.
“The Sailor assigned to the USS Theodore Roosevelt who was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the U.S. Naval Hospital Guam April 9 (local date) died of COVID-related complications on April 13,” the Navy said in a statement.
Officials did not disclose the name or information of the sailor, who is believed to be the first active-duty service member to die of the coronavirus.
Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper in a statement Monday afternoon said the “entire Department is deeply saddened by the loss of our first active duty member to COVID-19.”
“Our thoughts are with the family of the USS Theodore Roosevelt sailor who lost his battle with the virus today,” he continued. “We remain committed to protecting our personnel and their families while continuing to assist in defeating this outbreak.”
Adm/ Michael M. Gilday, chief of naval operations, offered his condolences and said the sailor’s death is “a great loss for the ship and for our Navy.”
“We mourn the loss of the sailor from USS Theodore Roosevelt who died today, and we stand alongside [his] family, loved ones and shipmates as they grieve,” he said.
More than 3,900 sailors have been moved off the ship and are currently isolated in hotels and homes across Guam.
Among the patients in quarantine is Capt. Brett Crozier, the former commanding officer who was fired by now former acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly.
Mr. Modly resigned after flying to Guam and giving a profanity-laced lambasting of Capt. Crozier over the ship’s public address system.
On Sunday, Navy officials reported 890 coronavirus cases across the branch, with more than half of that number coming from the USS Roosevelt.
• Mike Glenn contributed to this story.
• Lauren Toms can be reached at lmeier@washingtontimes.com.
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