In order not to compromise military readiness, military forces around the world are taking all possible measures to try to contain the spread of COVID-19 among Defense personnel. The virus continues to infect troops and commanders at an alarming rate. On Tuesday, the Polish government announced that the general Jaroslaw Mika tested positive at #coronavirus. General Mika is believed to have contracted the virus during a military conference that took place in the German city of Wiesbaden, where several NATO generals gathered to plan a US-led exercise. Last week the Italian Army General Staff announced that the Chief of Staff, General Salvatore Farina had fallen ill with Covid-19. Yesterday the United States Department of Defense said that the US Army commander in Europe, the lieutenant general Christopher Cavoli, attended the Wiesbaden conference, along with several other US Army staff members. They have all been tested for exposure to COVID-19. Meanwhile, the Reuters news agency reported that the Pentagon acknowledged that "the official tally of military and defense personnel infected with the coronavirus is underestimated". The reason is due to the low age and good health of the American troops: "it is a kind of blessing", since coronavirus tests are not performed with mild flu symptoms. Most likely they are all unverified coronavirus cases.
Tuesday on Taiwanese government said more than 400 members of its military had been quarantined in order to prevent a possible outbreak of COVID-19 among military personnel. This brings the total number of Taiwanese military quarantined to over 2.000, including two generals. The country's defense minister, Yen De-fahowever, he said the virus did not affect Taiwan's military readiness.
Chinese officials have not provided information on the effect of the coronavirus on the country's military. However the Chinese language website of The Epoch Times said last week that, according to leaked rumors, the Chinese People's Liberation Army had "forcibly isolated" dozens of military personnel.
Finally, the South Korean website Daily NK reported the news that about 180 soldiers have died in North Korea in the last month following Covid-19. The website, citing "an unnamed source from the North Korean military," also wrote that Pyongyang had forcibly quarantined some 3.700 soldiers of all ranks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the country's military.
Coronavirus in the USA and Pentagon measurements
The US Department of Defense has announced that it is able to function continuously, despite some media claiming that US military readiness may soon begin to lose effectiveness following the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
During a press conference, the United States Defense Secretary Mark Esper claimed to be "completely confident”That the Pentagon can carry out its functions without interruption, even after the spread of the #coronavirus. The Pentagon, the largest military building in the world with 20.000 employees inside has a Command and Control Center, designed for a nuclear attack, which is able to support Department of Defense employees for even weeks without letting them leave building.
The secretary of defense aspenr also stated that the worldwide efforts of the U.S. military on COVID-19 are coordinated by the U.S. command Northern. The Norther Military Command is already preparing to "short and long term scenarios, in national and international situations".