HMS Queen Elizabeth departure delayed due to COVID outbreak
The scheduled departure of HMS Queen Elizabeth from Portsmouth naval base has been delayed after some of its crew tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.
The aircraft carrier has spent much of the year working up towards obtaining its carrier strike initial operating capability, ahead of its first operational deployment in 2021.
Both the US and French navies have had to return vessels to port following outbreaks of the virus while on operations. The UK MoD has installed additional practices to try to ensure that crews minimise the risks of contracting COVID-19 ahead of deployment and test crews
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