Fort Jackson reports 25 new cases of the coronavirus
Fort Jackson, the nation’s largest basic training installation, announced Monday that the Army post has 25 new confirmed cases of COVID-19.
The latest figures brings the Army post’s total to 27, after confirming last week two soldiers were infected. The fort recently declared its own public health emergency due to the novel coronavirus and has stopped hosting public graduations and limited public access to facilities.
“We continue to ask that everyone increase their individual efforts and personal prevention practices to stop the spread of COVID-19,” Fort Jackson Commander Brig. Gen. Milford H. Beagle, Jr. said in a statement.
Army officials said soldiers in the 3rd Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment, and 2nd Battalion, 39th Infantry Regiment, had the highest density of confirmed positive cases among the soldiers in training.
A family member of a soldier stationed at Fort Jackson was also among those with the virus, though the person is not linked to anyone in basic combat training.
Unit leaders and health professionals are attempting to identify anyone who has been in close contact with those who have tested positive for the virus.
The new batch of cases comes on a day when South Carolina saw its number of coronavirus cases rise to 925. At least 18 people in the state have died from the virus, health officials announced Monday.
Over the past few weeks, Fort Jackson has taken precautions to prevent the further spread of the virus.
It has closed future graduations to the public, closed a gate and limited access to other gates. On-post advanced training facilities, schools, libraries and the movie theater have all closed. Officials are also conducting temperature checks for everyone entering Fort Jackson.
The Department of Defense health care system is providing care for soldiers and family members who have been exposed and tested positive for the coronavirus.
“COVID-19 does not discriminate (against) who it infects, and I want to keep everyone safe and healthy,” Beagle said in a news release. “The more we put into active social distancing and collective personal discipline, the greater likelihood we will have success in stopping the spread of this invisible threat.”
This story was originally published March 30, 2020 at 7:06 PM with the headline "Fort Jackson reports 25 new cases of the coronavirus."