Biosecurity

Pentagon halts domestic travel for military due to coronavirus

The Pentagon announced Friday that members of the armed services, Defense Department civilian employees and their family members who are living on or serving at military properties can no longer travel domestically starting Monday, to curtail the spread of the coronavirus.
"The continuing spread of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) necessitates immediate implementation of travel restrictions for domestic Department of Defense (DoD) travel," according to a Defense Department memo signed by Deputy Defense Secretary David Norquist.
"These restrictions are necessary to preserve force readiness, limit the continuing spread of the virus, and preserve the health and welfare of Service members, DoD civilian employees, their families, and the local communities in which we live," the memo continues.
The news comes after President Donald Trump said during a televised address Wednesday that travel from Europe to the US would be suspended due to the worsening outbreak, later clarifying that the restriction would not apply to US citizens. The military has felt the effects of the pandemic, as some branches have begun screening new recruits for the virus and US involvement in certain military exercises has been altered in response to the outbreak.