{"id":37469,"date":"2021-05-24T21:05:39","date_gmt":"2021-05-24T21:05:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2021\/05\/24\/drug-testing-program-going-back-to-its-pre-pandemic-footing-navy-says\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:42:20","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:42:20","slug":"drug-testing-program-going-back-to-its-pre-pandemic-footing-navy-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2021\/05\/24\/drug-testing-program-going-back-to-its-pre-pandemic-footing-navy-says\/","title":{"rendered":"Drug-testing program going back to its pre-pandemic footing, Navy says"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As more sailors opt to get a COVID vaccine and as cases continue to fall in the United States, the Navy is getting its drug-testing program back on a pre-pandemic footing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Friday, the sea service resumed its regular urinalysis testing<\/a> regimen, doing away with limitations to the program that went into effect as COVID-19 took off around the globe in March 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No longer will units be able to suspend \u201ccollection operations\u201d in order to mitigate sailor exposure to COVID-19, Friday\u2019s message states<\/a>, a policy change that aligns with recent guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention supporting the safe resumption of many pre-pandemic activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAdditionally, maintaining a robust and drug free workplace is Navy\u2019s best deterrence to misuse of illicit and prescription drugs,\u201d the message states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Commands that feel they are unable to resume normal testing will have to explain why to their echelon three commanders, including those units based in areas where COVID restrictions would limit or prevent such testing.<\/p>\n\n\n\t