USS Carl Vinson back on Guam; some 5,000 sailors to go on liberty

[TexasTowelie]

The rumors were true and Guam businesses couldn’t have a happier Christmas. The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson is back on Guam and its sailors are expected to spend liberty on the island.

A few weeks ago, it was mentioned during a Guam Visitors Bureau meeting that a major US Navy ship would be making a port call on Guam and that tourism-related businesses were crossing their fingers that it would push through.

The Guam Chamber of Commerce also quietly advised its members of the possibility of a US Navy ship port call and liberty for its sailors.

The US Navy, as is its wont, wouldn’t confirm nor deny for security reasons.

Read more: https://www.pncguam.com/uss-carl-vinson-back-on-guam-some-5000-sailors-to-go-on-liberty/

[Throck]

1. What about social distancing?

Everyone on the ship is a potential carrier, everyone on shore is a potential carrier. Omicron is a wild card.

[TexasTowelie]

2. Also at the link:

USS Carl Vinson has one of the highest overall vaccination rates in the Department of Defense and during the carrier’s last visit here, only vaccinated Sailors in the strike group were authorized to enjoy liberty off-base.

In any case, all visiting military members always adhere to NBG and local Government of Guam COVID-19 mitigation measures, including mask-wearing and social distancing.

[Throck]

3. The problem is even vaxed people have been contacting Covid

What about the shore side civilians?

Too much risk under current conditions.

[TexasTowelie]

4. I doubt that there is any more risk from the sailors

than they have had from other visitors. For example, there is a COVID outbreak in the nearby Northern Marianas Islands currently and a far greater percentage of their citizens are unvaxxed.

I also suspect that a larger percentage of the sailors are vaccinated compared to the general population. Therefore, before the sailors go on liberty, they may be receiving some additional instructions on measures they need to adhere to in order to avoid infection.

[Throck]

5. They'll have to keep an eye on the other social diseases then I guess.

[Throck]

6. US Navy Covid problems. USS Milwaukee.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142845157

100% vaccinated and problems.

[TexasTowelie]

7. One is in Guam while the other is in Cuba.

I'm not saying that the problem shouldn't be taken seriously, but if there is a problem with the Vinson it will be because of deployment exercises with the militaries from other countries.

I suspect that everyone is aware of the risks that they are taking with the evolution of the omicron variant. If people take reasonable precautions it should mitigate the chances of transmission.