Investigation Underway After COVID Outbreak At Britannia Royal Naval College

An investigation is underway after a COVID-19 outbreak at Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC).

About 130 new trainee officers at Dartmouth are now self-isolating and training has also been suspended for new arrivals at the college.

Training for current BRNC personnel continues at the college, however, as they are in separate accommodation and in their own work bubbles.

The aim of the investigation is to find out how personnel tested positive when precautions against the spread of the virus were already in place.

These include cadets self-isolating at home for two weeks before coming on to camp and taking COVID-19 tests on their arrival. 

In a statement, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) said: "A number of personnel have returned home to self-isolate, or been transferred to another establishment by service transport and will follow PHE (Public Health England) guidance. 

"Those individuals who returned home were not permitted to take public transport."

In August 2020, sailors and officers passed out side-by-side for the first time in the history of the Royal Navy after completing training together at Dartmouth.