Navy barred by Pentagon from disclosing coronavirus cases while carrier outbreak continues

Josh Farley | Kitsap Sun

BREMERTON — Kitsap's military installations, including the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, have been barred from disclosing cases of novel coronavirus within their ranks and workforces, even as dozens of new cases spread aboard a deployed aircraft carrier in the Pacific.

The Department of Defense's decision on Monday to shield numbers at individual Navy bases and commands is to prevent them from falling into enemy hands, the Pentagon said.

"We will continue to do our best to balance transparency in this crisis with operational security," said Alyssa Farah, a Pentagon spokeswoman.

The Navy's totals for those who've tested positive for COVID-19 will continue to be posted. As of Monday, there were 245 cases among service members, civilian employees and contractors.

The Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, through its commander, Capt. Diana Wolfson, had been reporting nearly daily updates through March, including the announcement of the first and only reported case March 26 — a shipyard worker who'd contracted COVID-19 but who hadn't been at work since March 10.

Meghan Henderson, a shipyard spokesman, said that while the shipyard could no longer post indivdual cases, the response to new cases by leadership is not changing.

"Our shipyard procedures for handling a positive case remain the same in regard to ensuring self-isolation, cleanliness of workspaces and notification of any personnel that have close, personal contact with the positive individual," she said.

Tad Sooter, spokesman for the Kitsap Public Health District, said the county's total numbers will reflect anyone who lives in Kitsap, regardless of where they work.

'How can I feel safe?'

The shipyard has remained open throughout the coronavirus' spread, answering the call to defend the country even as a pandemic spreads across the nation. In the shipyard's last disclosure on March 27, there were 26 employees awaiting test results for coronavirus.

"Our U.S. Navy civil servants and defense industrial partners, including shipyards and aircraft repair facilities, continue to keep us ready even given the challenges of COVID19," Adm. Mike Gilday, the Chief of Naval Operations, said on social media March 21. "Their continued work is critical in support of our Navy’s mission in defense of our Nation."

The shipyard has pared down the number of workers required to report on-site every day; more than 2,000 of its 14,000 workers are telecommuting, a staggering of shifts has been implemented and workers over 65 and those most vulnerable have been sent on leave. Roughly 6,500 workers still commute there each day.

More: 'Anxiety and fear' at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, where mission goes on

On Wednesday, the shipyard will be bringing back some workers who'd been previously allowed leave with pay — notably those aged 60 to 64 and those with high blood pressure. The shipyard said the move is being made to better align with CDC guidelines.

Some workers have expressed concern the new order will cloak potential case clusters in the shipyard from public knowledge and that the lack of transparency will lead to further spread of the virus.

"With that communication shut down, how can I feel safe?" one worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, asked.

Farah, the Pentagon spokeswoman, said outbreaks would be reported.

"In keeping with our commitment to transparency, we will assiduously continue to make the public aware of the presence of any potential new COVID-19 outbreaks within our base communities," she said.

Carrier captain: 'Sailors do not need to die'

The Kitsap Sun had reported last week that one sailor stationed aboard the USS Carl Vinson — dry docked at the shipyard for an overhaul — has been infected. The sailor had been on leave and did not go aboard the ship, Navy leaders said.

More: USS Carl Vinson's leaders stay the course while trying to limit contagion

Four members of the Navy SEALs at Naval Base Kitsap had also been reported to have come down with coronavirus, as had some sailors aboard destroyers based at Naval Station Everett.

The new policy comes as the deployed USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier has reported dozens of coronavirus cases, according to a leaked letter from its captain.

Captain B.E. Crozier said in the letter that "decisive action," to include removing 90% of the crew from the ship, is needed.

"Keeping over 4,000 young men and women on board the TR is an unnecessary risk and breaks faith with those Sailors entrusted with our care," he wrote. "...We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die."

In an interview with CNN, Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modley said the ship is being evacuated in Guam, save for a skeleton crew, and it will be disinfected.

Josh Farley covers the military for the Kitsap Sun. You can reach him at josh.farley@kitsapsun.com.