Navy installations tightening COVID-19 restrictions

Nearly every U.S. Navy installation in the U.S. is tightening COVID-19 restrictions in an effort to curb the virus’s spread on bases and protect military families.

Installations across the country will implement more robust measures at Health Protection Condition Level Charlie, which is one step below the most stringent level, the Department of Defense announced.

The only installation exempt from the tightened measures is the Naval Air Station at Fallon in the remote Nevada desert.

The new measures could close some day care centers, eliminate community activities and restrict travel.

Additionally, while commanders typically make decisions about their bases, more personnel could work from home as a result of the new restrictions.

“These changes are based on authorities delegated in March, giving commanders the flexibility to respond in the best interests of their personnel while maintaining mission effectiveness,” Assistant to the Secretary of Defense Jonathan Hoffman said during a Pentagon press briefing Tuesday.

Some military bases began implementing COVID-19 restrictions at the beginning of this month, as cases have hit record rates in civilian populations across the U.S. and military installations.

To date, the Defense Department has seen nearly 75,000 service members diagnosed with COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic.

CNN reported Wednesday that the U.S. military reported a record 1,314 new COVID-19 cases, citing Defense Department statistics.

The coronavirus has complicated operations for the Navy throughout the year.

In April, crew members of USS Theodore Roosevelt quarantined in Guam for an extended period after several tested positive for COVID-19.

The latest infected ship is the USS Michael Murphy, with nearly one-quarter of its 300-member crew infected.