WASHINGTON, DC - A sailor stationed on board naval aircraft carrier USS Teddy Roosevelt has died of the novel coronavirus.
The Navy did not disclose the name of the sailor, who was admitted to the intensive care unit of a US Navy hospital last week. Nearly 600 sailors on the Roosevelt have tested positive for COVID-19 and at least 92 percent of the crew members have been tested for the virus.
The Roosevelt has been at the center of controversy that led to the resignation last week of Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly. Modly dismissed the aircraft carrier's captain Brett Crozier after the leak of a memo where he urged Navy officials to evacuate the ship to protect the health of its sailors.
Crozier was removed by now-former acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly after his plea for help in the coronavirus outbreak got into the public domain. Modly resigned after suggesting that Captain Crozier is stupid.
Meanwhile, the number of cases on the USS Theodore Roosevelt is increasing. At least 550 crew members aboard the ship have tested positive for COVID-19. Two days ago, that number was at 416. More than 3,600 have tested negative.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper is not ruling out reinstating Captain Brett Crozier, former commander of the USS Theodore Roosevelt. Esper told CBS This Morning that nothing has been taken off the table.
Esper said the whole situation is being investigated.