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Immediate Release

Statement by Jonathan Hoffman, Chief Pentagon Spokesman, on the DOD Response to U.S. Coast Guard Statement on Senior Leader COVID-19 Test

Statement by Jonathan Hoffman, Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs:

“We are aware that Vice Commandant Ray has tested positive for COVID-19 and that he was at the Pentagon last week for meetings with other senior military leaders. Some meeting attendees included other Service Chiefs. We are conducting additional contact tracing and taking appropriate precautions to protect the force and the mission. Out of an abundance of caution, all potential close contacts from these meetings are self-quarantining and have been tested this morning. No Pentagon contacts have exhibited symptoms and we have no additional positive tests to report at this time.  

There is no change to the operational readiness or mission capability of the U.S. Armed Forces. Senior military leaders are able to remain fully mission capable and perform their duties from an alternative work location.  DoD has been following CDC guidelines since April with respect to temperature testing, social distancing, and the wearing of masks to the greatest extent when social distancing is not possible and will continue to do so.  

The entire Department of Defense wishes Admiral Ray well on his way to a swift recovery.”