A Sailor assigned to the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) who was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the U.S. Naval Hospital Guam April 9 (local date) died of COVID-related complications April 13, the U.S. Navy announced.
The name of the Sailor is being withheld until 24 hours after next-of-kin notification.
The Sailor, tested positive for COVID-19 March 30, was removed from the ship and placed in an isolation house on Naval Base Guam with four other USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) Sailors. Like other Sailors in isolation, he received medical checks twice daily from Navy medical teams.
At approximately 8:30 a.m., Apr. 9 (local date), the Sailor was found unresponsive during a daily medical check. While Naval Base Guam emergency responders were notified, CPR was administered by fellow Sailors and onsite medical team in the house. The Sailor was transferred to U.S. Naval Hospital Guam where the Sailor was moved to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The Sailor was declared deceased April 13.
USS Theodore Roosevelt arrived in Guam March 27 for a scheduled port visit for resupply and crew rest.
Reportedly among the positive cases is the carrier’s former commanding officer Capt. Brett Crozier, who was relieved of command after a letter he wrote raising alarms about a coronavirus outbreak onboard leaked to the media.
The same day the deceased sailor tested positive, Crozier sent out a letter warning that “the spread of the disease is ongoing and accelerating.” In his plea, he called on the Navy to take decisive action and evacuate the overwhelming majority of the crew. “Sailors do not need to die,” he wrote, adding the Navy does not act, “there will be losses.”