NATO HQ staffer tests positive for COVID-19
NATO confirmed on 9 March that a member of staff at its headquarters in Brussels, Belgium has tested positive for coronavirus.
The individual had recently returned from a trip to northern Italy, where 14 provinces are in lockdown.
‘The staff member is currently at home in self-isolation,’ a NATO spokesperson announced in a statement.
‘Within minutes of receiving the result, all the immediate work colleagues were informed. They had been working from home at the end of last week and continued to do so. All NATO headquarters staff have also been informed.’
NATO has already taken a number of measures to prevent an outbreak amongst its HQ personnel, including the suspension of certain staff travel, encouraging staff to work from home and the suspension of group visits.
Other military-related activities continue as normal.
The announcement came after the DoD disclosed that a US Marine stationed at Fort Belvoir, Virginia also tested positive for COVID-19 after returning from a business trip abroad.
More from Defence Notes
-
![Amazon Project Kuiper emphasises user-friendly solutions for multi-domain connectivity (Studio)]()
Amazon Project Kuiper emphasises user-friendly solutions for multi-domain connectivity (Studio)
At DSEI 2025, Shephard's Alix Valenti spoke to Project Kuiper's Rich Pang about the importance of enabling seamless communication between allied forces such as NATO members in challenging operational environments.
-
![Israel defence ministry pushes ambitious spending plans for tanks, drones and KC-46 aircraft]()
Israel defence ministry pushes ambitious spending plans for tanks, drones and KC-46 aircraft
The procurement and acceleration production plans – some of which still await approval – across the air and land domains will aim to strengthen the operational needs of the Israel Defense Forces.
-
![US reforms its defence acquisition system to focus on commercial capabilities]()
US reforms its defence acquisition system to focus on commercial capabilities
This shift is planned to accelerate the procurement and fielding of capabilities. As part of this strategy, the US also intends modernise its regulations in an attempt to change its bureaucratic and risk-averse culture.
