90 students, staff in Ft. Bragg survival course quarantined after testing positive for COVID-19
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (WTVD) -- Ninety students and cadre involved in Ft. Bragg's Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape course have been quarantined after testing positive for COVID-19.
Col. Michael Henry, who is responsible for the Army's John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School said the survival course is isolated from other special warfare courses, and officials canceled the class as soon as the first positive test result was discovered.
All of the other attendees were then tested, which is how the other positive cases were found. Everyone has been quarantined including those who did not test positive.
The spokeswoman for the school told ABC11, students and staff were tested Saturday and Sunday. The positive results came in Monday afternoon. Since students only had six hours left until completion, officials are counting it toward passing the course.
"The health and wellness of our students and staff is our top priority," said Maj. Gen. Patrick Roberson, Special Warfare Center and School commanding general and commandant of the school, in a written statement. "We will do everything we can to protect our students and their families."
Henry said most of the positive cases are showing mild symptoms. According to him, the command is looking at implementing more protective measures by increasing social distancing, requiring masks and decreasing class sizes.
"I'm making sure they have over the counter medicine they need and supplies needed to make sure we can do twice daily checks of temperatures and vital signs," said Henry.
The representative said that the school had been following strict COVID-19 guidelines, turning to mostly online education. Students taking part in courses that could not be taught online were tested for COVID-19 prior to training and monitored for symptoms daily.
