{"id":11372,"date":"2020-07-16T20:49:52","date_gmt":"2020-07-16T20:49:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/07\/16\/positive-coronavirus-tests-grounds-thunderbirds-ahead-of-wyoming-show\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T20:10:59","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T20:10:59","slug":"positive-coronavirus-tests-grounds-thunderbirds-ahead-of-wyoming-show","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/2020\/07\/16\/positive-coronavirus-tests-grounds-thunderbirds-ahead-of-wyoming-show\/","title":{"rendered":"Positive coronavirus tests grounds Thunderbirds ahead of Wyoming show"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

CHEYENNE, Wyo. \u2014 Coronavirus among U.S. Air Force personnel has grounded the Thunderbirds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fighter jet demonstration team was scheduled to perform in Cheyenne next Wednesday but canceled because \u201ca few of our team members\u201d tested positive for the virus, Nellis Air Force Base said in a statement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The base near Las Vegas is headquarters for the Thunderbirds. The Thunderbirds and U.S. Navy\u2019s Blue Angels have overflown several U.S. cities in recent months<\/a> in a show of national unity amid the coronavirus pandemic<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Federal regulations prohibit the Air Force from saying how many personnel have the virus and their conditions, but none of them is a pilot, Thunderbirds spokeswoman Capt. Remoshay Nelson said Thursday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those testing positive will self-isolate for 14 days, and the team plans to resume flying next week. Contact tracing by public health officials was underway to determine if anyone else had the virus, Nelson said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur primary focus is ensuring the health and welfare of our personnel so we can safeguard our mission readiness and capabilities,\u201d Nelson said by email. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The U.S Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron \u201cThunderbirds\u201d fly over Las Vegas on April 11, 2020, to show appreciation and support for the health-care workers, first responders and other essential personnel who are working on the front lines to combat COVID-19. (Staff Sgt. Cory W. Bush\/Air Force)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Most of the Thunderbirds\u2019 scheduled shows this year are canceled amid public health orders banning large crowds. The Cheyenne event was originally scheduled as part of the Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo festival held each year over the last two weeks of July. <\/p>\n\n\n\t