USEUCOM warns of more coronavirus base lockdowns
USAF General Tod Wolters, head of US European Command (USEUCOM), has suggested that the outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus in Northern Italy could lead to a quarantine lockdown of other US bases, particularly in Germany.
Speaking to the US Senate Armed Services Committee on 25 February, Wolters told the panel that all European military flights were being screened for the virus whilst the US Army in Italy closed on-base child care centres, churches, gyms and schools at its base near Vincenza.
These are due to remain closed until 1 March.
Wolters also informed senators that USEUCOM is ‘anticipating an increase in the number of cases in Germany’.
CNN reported that a joint military training exercise between the US and South Korea is expected to be scaled back after an outbreak of COVID-19 in South Korean barracks last week. The virus is therefore impacting US military operations in both Europe and the Asia-Pacific regions.
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