US Deputy Joint Chiefs of Staff John Hayton confirmed the continuation of US military operations abroad despite the "Corona" outbreak, which forces soldiers to take unprecedented precautions to protect themselves from the emerging virus.
"There is no effect on the operations," Hayton told a group of reporters. The tasks that we currently perform all over the world are still being carried out according to the same rules and the same model »that was approved a month or two ago.
"We continue to adapt to various restrictions, but the virus has no effect on these missions," he said, stressing that the number of US soldiers infected with the virus abroad is "very limited." The Pentagon announced on Wednesday that it had frozen for two months all the movements of the American military around the world, including the operations of sending soldiers to combat zones or returning them to their homeland, as part of its efforts to curb the new Corona epidemic.
In a statement, the US Department of Defense said that Defense Secretary Mark Esber ordered the suspension of civilian and military transfers of all Pentagon employees abroad, for a period of 60 days, noting that the freeze also includes family members of these employees if they live with them abroad.
Two days ago, the US Department of Defense counted 652 cases of Covid-19 virus among its military and civilian personnel, family members, and contractors. One contractor died from the virus.
On the other hand, the White House said that US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday authorizing the Secretaries of Homeland Security and Defense to call in the Army and Coast Guard reservists for service.
According to the decision, the two ministers were empowered to issue a summons to reserve soldiers from the army, navy, air force, and coast guard for service for a period of up to two years, "with a number not exceeding one million individuals in service at any time."
Washington: The number of US soldiers infected with the Coronavirus abroad is "very limited."