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Big Lizzie falls ill: Royal Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, postpones sailing from Portsmouth base after crew members tested positive for Covid-19
- Up to nine of the ship’s crew have tested positive for coronavirus
- Around 100 more crew members isolate themselves on board and will be reassessed
- The ship was to set sail to work with a NATO task force of other warships.
The Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth postponed its departure from Portsmouth Naval Base after several crew members tested positive for Covid-19, the Defense Ministry confirmed.
Around 100 more crew members are in isolation on board because they have been in contact with positive cases.
The infected crew members have been removed from the ship and will remain in isolation.
The Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth postponed its departure from Portsmouth Naval Base after several crew members tested positive for Covid-19, the Defense Ministry confirmed.
The £ 3 billion warship was due to leave the historic Portsmouth shipyard this afternoon for training exercises, but the departure was called off at the last minute.
A spokesman for the Defense Ministry confirmed that ‘fewer than 10’ members of the 1,000-strong crew had tested positive for the coronavirus and had been brought ashore for isolation in barracks.
Other sailors who had contact with their infected crewmates will isolate themselves aboard the 65,000-ton ship that is expected to leave Portsmouth on Tuesday.
It is the second time the carrier has had to postpone its departure after two crew members tested positive for Covid-19 in April.
The aircraft carrier, which is currently in Portsmouth, has postponed its navigation for 24 hours after up to nine of its crew members tested positive for coronavirus.
A spokesperson for the Royal Navy said: ‘A small number of HMS Queen Elizabeth staff tested positive for Covid during routine preparation to sail.
“Those affected have been isolated and are working with the NHS Test and Trace system to ensure that the virus does not spread further.
“The crew will continue to follow proper health guidelines and HMS Queen Elizabeth will depart once her status has been confirmed.”
The spokesman said the decision on when to sail would be left to the carrier’s commanding officer, Capt. Angus Essenhigh, who will act on the guidance of PHE.
The carrier is expected to conduct training exercises at sea before returning to base for supplies before departing for major international exercises, including the first-time boarding of the US F35 Lightning jets. UK.
Its goal is to declare attack aircraft carrier capability by the end of this year before its first operational deployment in 2021.
Around 100 more crew members are in isolation on board because they have been in contact with positive cases.
The infected crew members have been removed from the ship and will remain in isolation.
Several British and American F-35B stealth jets will also be aboard the carrier in the largest cohort of aircraft seen on a British warship in more than a decade.
American Airmen from the United States Marine Corps arrived at RAF Marham last week to prepare for the role.
The Queen Elizabeth will be deployed on her first operational mission early next year, allowing her to travel around the world.
Her sister ship, HMS Prince of Wales, is expected to carry out her maiden operational deployment in 2023.
