KITTERY, Maine – A civilian employee assigned to Submarine Maintenance Engineering, Planning and Procurement Activity at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard has died as a result of coronavirus complications, the U.S. Navy announced Monday.

The death, which occurred Sunday, April 5, was noted in the Navy’s daily COVID-19 fact sheet, which includes an updated tally of positive coronavirus cases across the Navy and its bases, as well as new key developments.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and co-workers of the deceased during this difficult time," the Navy wrote.

Shipyard public affairs officials also confirmed the death, but would not provide details about the individual, such as age, gender or area of residence.

Neither the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services or the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention have reported an April 5 death yet. Deaths in Massachusetts rose by 29 since Sunday, the state Department of Public Health reported.

In a statement to the workforce, Shipyard Cmdr. Capt. Daniel Ettlich said, "Along with SUBMEPP’s Commanding Officer Captain Carey Pantling and the rest of SUBMEPP, we here at the shipyard are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of a member of our submarine maintenance team. Our thoughts and prayers are with the individual's family, friends, and coworkers as we extend our deepest sympathy and wish them comfort and healing."

Shipyard Deputy Public Affairs Officer Gary Hildreth said SUBMEPP and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard "remain focused on protecting our sailors, Navy civilians, and their families, preventing the spread of the virus, and ensuring our submarine fleet's readiness in order to accomplish assigned missions."

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu said he was aware of the ill shipyard worker during a Monday press conference when questioned about it.

"I was made aware that there was an individual that had been hospitalized when this came up earlier last week," Sununu said. "We can't divulge the residence of that individual or anything like that, of course. But I think it goes to a bigger concern and issue around any facility with a large population. There's a large population at the Portsmouth shipyard. That doesn't mean we need to shut down the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, but we do have to take these new physical and social and distancing precautions very, very seriously, not just in our homes and communities, but in our workplace."

Sununu said essential employers need to take smart precautions "to ensure that if there is one positive case, it doesn't turn into an outbreak that can have devastating effects across the entire population within those organizations."

As of April 6, there are 617 confirmed cases of the coronavirus across the Navy’s military personnel, civilians, dependents and contractors – a number that has nearly doubled since last week. There have been two deaths, both of whom were civilians.

Monday’s death announcement comes after the Department of Defense last week said it will not publicly report individual coronavirus cases at specific Navy bases. It instead will release numbers across the entire Navy each day. A DOD spokesperson said the new policy was meant to "balance transparency in this crisis with operational security."

Last week, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard officials would not answer questions about the possible presence of COVID-19 among its workforce of nearly 8,000, and instead directed inquiries to the DOD.

A Navy spokesperson did say the PNSY workforce was being kept informed about positive cases of the coronavirus.

PNSY employees who meet particular "high-risk" guidelines have been allowed to take administrative leave, per DOD guidance. Shipyard officials have also said about 20% of its workforce is currently working remotely.

The Navy on Monday also issued new guidance requiring face coverings now be worn on DOD property, installations and facilities.

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