Sailor caught on camera disobeying COVID-19 quarantine orders, 1 sailor dead

Surveillance footage captured a USS Theodore Roosevelt sailor leaving the hotel room and violating quarantine orders, according to Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero.

The sailor is under investigation, Joint Region Marianas Commander Rear Adm. John Menoni said on Monday.

Menoni also said that the sailor was taken back to Naval Base Guam

“According to (Menoni), the individual broke free of his room but never left the confines of the hotel. The individual was immediately returned to Naval Base Guam and is subject to discipline under the Uniformed Code of Military Justice,”  Leon Guerrero said.

“It was caught on camera and the person was removed from the hotel and sent back to the naval facility,” the governor said at Tuesday’s press conference.

As of Tuesday, 4,021 sailors have moved off the aircraft carrier into housing on Naval Base Guam and into hotels off base, according to the Navy.

Officials have said only sailors who test negative and who are asymptomatic will be quarantined in hotels off base.

Sailors are required to stay in their rooms during the 14-day quarantine period as ordered by Rear Adm. Stuart Baker, commander of the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group, Menoni said on April 2.

“Any sailor who violates that lawful order will be subject to uniform code of military justice,” Menoni previously said. “I have to assure the people of Guam and our local military community I take this deadly seriously. There is nobody that’s going to violate an order on my watch and get away with it.”

Leon Guerrero has said military provided security to ensure sailors don’t leave the perimeter.

“These are the conditions, both sides have agreed to,” Leon Guerrero said at the April 2 press conference.

Since the ship pulled into Guam on March 27, the Navy has worked to test almost 5,000 sailors on the ship.

As of Tuesday, 92% of the crew have been tested for COVID-19, with 585 positive and 3,921 negative.

Sailor died from COVID-related complications

One USS Theodore Roosevelt sailor on Monday died from COVID-related complications, the Navy said.

The sailor's identity has been withheld until 24 hours after his next-of-kin is notified. 

He tested positive on March 30 and, like other sailors, received medical checks twice daily from Navy medical teams, according to the Navy.

He was found unresponsive during a daily medical check on April 9 at about 8:30 a.m., the Navy said.

Naval Base Guam emergency responders were notified and CPR was conducted by fellow sailors and onsite medical team in the house, the Navy said. 

The sailor was then transferred to Naval Hospital Guam and placed in the ICU.

In a statement, Leon Guerrero said, "On behalf of Lt. Gov. Joshua Tenorio, my husband Jeff, and our families, we offer our deepest condolences to this sailor and his family. We live in uncertain times, but Guam understands that every bit of freedom we enjoy is paid for by the men and women of the USS Theodore Roosevelt and others like them.

"Without a single weapon fired, the world is engaged in a costly struggle against a committed and relentless enemy. And, while we mourn for everyone we have lost in this fight, we promise their absence will not be vain. We wish him peace, eternal rest, and the knowledge that his loss touched thousands of people he has never met."

Sen. Jose “Pedo” Terlaje also offered condolences to the sailor.

“A grateful island and nation mourns the loss of a sailor assigned to the USS Theodore Roosevelt to the deadly COVID-19 virus. We pray that this is the last sailor that has to give his life for democracy and freedom, in the face of this deadly pandemic that is plaguing the world. I also have faith that we can all come together and work together for the betterment of all our people and save as many lives as possible. One thing this pandemic has shown us is that we’re all in this together and we don't leave anyone behind," Terlaje said. 

Military expands hospital capacity

As the USS Theodore Roosevelt works to combat the virus among the crew, tents are being put up near Naval Hospital Guam to increase hospital bed capacity, Leon Guerrero said on Tuesday.

Menoni on Monday said if the local government needs military support it was his intention to answer the call.

“They’re increasing their hospital beds there and their ICU. I think they’re increasing their ICU by 12 and I think hospital beds by 15 or 20 more,” Leon Guerrero said.

Another facility will be put up at the South Finegayan area that will add another 120 beds and 22 ICU beds, according to Leon Guerrero.

“As (Menoni) had mentioned yesterday, that also is going to be available for the community when the request is made,” Leon Guerrero said.

Rear Admiral: Sailor under investigation for not following quarantine protocol

This article originally appeared on Pacific Daily News: Sailor caught on camera disobeying COVID-19 quarantine orders, 1 sailor dead