Royal Navy Confronts COVID-19

The BBC reported on July 14, 2021, a COVID-19 outbreak has been confirmed on the Royal Navy's largest and most powerful flagship, HMS Queen Elizabeth. The BBC reported there had been around 100 cases on the aircraft carrier.

A spokeswoman said, "As part of routine testing, crew from the Carrier Strike Group have tested positive for Covid-19."

UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace commented, 'all crew on the deployment had received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine, and the outbreak was being managed,' reported the BBC.

On July 15, 2021, news media reported a second British ship's crew had contracted COVID-19. About eight crew members on the Prince of Wales tested positive after going ashore in Gibraltar, Sky News understands. "The good news is no one has so far had in any way even been referred to sickbay," Mr. Wallace said, according to Sky News.

Previously, on July 13, 2021, the HMS Queen Elizabeth – leading the Royal Navy’s Carrier Strike Group – linked up with the USS Ronald Reagan carrier strike group and USS Iwo Jima amphibious ready group. The two-day exercise saw the three navy task groups, comprising US, UK, and Dutch ships, test their abilities, reported the Royal Navy's website.

As of June 25, 2021, the UK military reported 261,770 Defence personnel had a COVID-19 test administered as part of the national testing program. Of these, 9,502 UK armed forces personnel had positive results for COVID-19.