You might have heard about the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) with the controversial administrative treatment of the commander who tried to warn of the CoViD-19 infection, and that the crew was replaced while docked in Guam, but what about the USS Kidd (DDG 100)?
28APR2020, USS Kidd (not to be confused with World War Two era USS Kidd DD 661, or Cold War era USS Kidd DDG 993) arrives in San Diego, California, for quarantine. Video of arrival:
On 06MAY2020, U.S. Naval Institute News reported a “insidious” outbreak aboard USS Kidd, and just like their silly-vilian counterparts, the U.S. Navy is using mathematical ‘models’ to guesstimate the spread of CoViD-19: “When we started out this process, I started to say it was an algebra problem for us. Then it became differential equations, and then it went to multivariable calculus, and in many respects now it’s almost theoretical physics trying to figure out what is the right thing to do.”-Vice Admiral Richard Brown, commander of Naval Surface Forces and Naval Surface Force Pacific
The latest USN information revealed that while docked in San Diego most of the crew of USS Kidd was replaced (aka Crew Swap). A skeleton crew was initially left aboard for daily operations, until a ‘caretaker crew’ could take over.
The caretaker crew is conducting ‘strategic deep-cleaning’ and daily operations of the ship. As of 18MAY2020, 90 of the original crew tested negative for CoViD-19 (multiple times) and were allowed back onboard: “Before we clear any Sailor to return to the ship, they must receive two separate negative test results.”-Vice Admiral Richard Brown, commander of Naval Surface Forces and Naval Surface Force Pacific
Video, initial medical screening of USS Kidd personnel in San Diego, on 28APR2020:
The first influenza-like illnesses showed up in early April while the USS Kidd was taking part in counter-drug-running operations in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean.
On 06APR2020, USS Kidd personnel were making their own cloth masks, and trying as best they could on a crowded ship to maintain social-distance. By April 22nd a Sailor had to be medevac-ed off the ship, the next day additional medical staff arrived to begin testing the crew.
Deep cleaning of the USS Kidd is expected to continue until the end of May.