{"id":38907,"date":"2020-05-15T15:26:33","date_gmt":"2020-05-15T15:26:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/05\/15\/for-the-second-week-covid-19-recoveries-among-troops-outpaced-new-diagnoses\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T07:21:42","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T07:21:42","slug":"for-the-second-week-covid-19-recoveries-among-troops-outpaced-new-diagnoses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2020\/05\/15\/for-the-second-week-covid-19-recoveries-among-troops-outpaced-new-diagnoses\/","title":{"rendered":"For the second week, COVID-19 recoveries among troops outpaced new diagnoses"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

More than 5,500 service members have tested postive for coronavirus<\/a> since late February, according to the latest numbers from the Defense Department, but troops are starting to recover at a higher rate than new cases are being diagnosed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That meant 355 new cases since May 8, compared to 572 recoveries, the data shows. The previous week saw 467 positives, versus 519 recoveries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The services are working with a plan that pro-actively tests asymptomatic members of some key units, including those with nuclear deterrent missions, as well as those preparing for deployment or redeployment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are also plans to do some random testing or units, dubbed \u201csentinel testing,\u201d Defense Secretary Mark Esper<\/a> told reporters May 5, to keep tabs on asymptomatic community spread.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut testing the entire force \u2026 is probably not a complete requirement,” Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Military Times May 5.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With 5,526 military cases overall so far, the services\u2019 infection rate stands at more than 0.2 percent, while the nationwide rate has climbed to over 0.4 percent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Navy<\/a> is still the hardest hit, with 2,205 cases, or 40 percent of diagnoses among troops. The Army now stands at 1,172 cases, followed by the Marine Corps at 481 and the Air Force at 442. The National Guard is now reporting 1,108 airmen and soldiers diagnosed, many of whom have been mobilized in local pandemic relief efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\t