Seven service members that deployed to Andersen AFB on May 25 have confirmed positive cases of COVID-19.
According to a release from Andersen this afternoon, the 7 recently arrived service members are part of an unnamed unit deployed here to Guam.
They all arrived at the same time and were booked into the Guam Reef Hotel in Tumon.
Last Thursday, on June 11, one of the 7 service members began to show symptoms of COVID-19 and was immediately tested by U.S. Naval Hospital Guam staff and found to be positive.
The other six who had close contact with that positive case were then tested and found to be positive as well.
The announcement of 7 new cases at Andersen conflict with the Joint Information Center’s earlier announcement of 2 new positive cases.
“The additional cases will likely be reported later today by the JIC,” said MSgt. Richard Ebensberger in response to a request for clarification from PNC News. “Our numbers are correct at 7 cases related to Andersen AFB,” he said.
And the Governor’s Press Secretary Krystal Paco-San Agustin explained that 4 of the 7 AAFB cases have already been reported to Guam Public Health and factored into JIC #183.
The other 3 new cases will be added to the next JIC release later today.
All 7 service members were removed from the Reef Hotel and taken back to Andersen where they have now been placed in isolation.
36th Wing commander Brig. Gen. Gentry Boswell, is quoted in the release as saying that “Andersen AFB is continually monitoring the situation and working closely with Joint Region Marianas and Guam Public Health to coordinate prevention and response efforts.”
READ the release from Andersen AFB in FULL below:
Deployed service members test positive for COVID-19
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam – Seven service members that deployed to Andersen AFB on May 25, were confirmed positive with COVID-19. Upon arrival, members of the deployed unit were lodged at Guam Reef Hotel in Tumon and received medical checks.
All service members assigned to the unit were rapidly placed in isolation and have since been relocated to Andersen AFB where they are under medical observation in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention protocols.
On June 11, a service member began to show symptoms of COVID-19 and was immediately tested by U.S. Naval Hospital Guam staff, which later produced a positive result on June 12. Six additional service members that had close contact with the first individual have also been confirmed positive.
“Andersen AFB is continually monitoring the situation and working closely with Joint Region Marianas and the Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services to coordinate prevention and response efforts,” said Brig. Gen. Gentry Boswell, 36th Wing commander. “Team Andersen remains committed to the health of our service members, their families, and the local community.”
36 Wing Public Affairs
Andersen AFB, Guam
