Washington: The Joint Chiefs of Staff, as well as other top US military leaders, have gone into quarantine after attending meetings at the Pentagon with a Coast Guard commander who tested positive for coronavirus, a Defense Department official said Tuesday.
Coast Guard Adm. Charles Ray tested positive Monday after experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 over the weekend. Before testing positive, Ray had attended meetings with top commanders from each of the armed services.
After Ray’s positive test results, the Joint Chiefs were tested and their results came back negative but are quarantined at home out of an abundance of caution.
The Pentagon’s senior leadership attended a White House reception last week for “Gold Star” families of fallen troops. Both President Trump and his wife, first lady Melania Trump attended the event.
Gen. Mark Milley, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is among the top officials quarantining. The 62-year-old was appointed as the most senior member of the military on December 8, 2018 by Trump.
Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said the quarantine won’t affect “the operational readiness or mission capability of the U.S. Armed Forces.”
