A senior commander of the U.S. Coast Guard is detected with the neoconaviruses, prompting several of the U.S. military’s most senior commanders to initiate self-quarantine. A senior member of Congress is concerned that enemies may take advantage of the situation to harm U.S. national security.
Vice Admiral Charles Ray, deputy commander of the Coast Guard, tested positive for neoconaviruses on Monday (Oct. 6, 2020). In a statement Tuesday, Defense Department spokesman Hoffman said Admiral Charles Ray was at the Pentagon last week to participate in a meeting of senior U.S. military commanders, including commanders of all branches of the military. Out of an abundance of caution, all those who came into close contact with Ray at the meeting were tested and self-isolation was initiated. No one else has tested positive so far, he said.
Pentagon officials confirmed to VOA that the senior officials who went into self-isolation included Admiral Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Admiral Hyten, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Joining Admiral Charles Ray in the meeting were the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, the Chief of Naval Operations, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and the Commander of Cyber Command.
Secretary of Defense Esper, Admiral Milley and other senior defense officials have been frequently tested for the new coronavirus since arriving at the White House for an event on Sept. 27. President Trump attended that event and was tested for the virus a few days later.
Defense Department spokesman Hoffman said the readiness of the U.S. military was not altered by the quarantine imposed by multiple senior commanders and that commanders were able to fully perform their duties at duty stations other than the Pentagon.
Rep. Smith, a Democrat who chairs the House Armed Services Committee, slammed President Trump in a statement Tuesday for failing to focus as military commander in chief on the severity of the neo-crown virus epidemic that has infected millions of Americans, including himself, and killed more than 200,000 people.
Smith said, “While our military can still function in the event of a quarantine imposed by our commanders, the national security implications of the president’s reckless actions cannot be ignored. Our adversaries are always looking to exploit our vulnerabilities.”
Trump was hospitalized last Friday after contracting the new coronavirus and returned to the White House on Monday to continue his treatment and recovery. He said, “Let’s be careful with the new coronavirus, but don’t let it dominate your life.”
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