Coronavirus: Labour Calls For Better Protection For Military Personnel

The shadow defence secretary has urged the Government to do "everything it can" to protect military personnel from COVID-19. 

John Healey said the military should be given access to coronavirus tests, with priority given to those serving as part of the COVID Support Force.

Around 2,800 military personnel are deployed across the UK in response to the coronavirus outbreak. 

Fewer than 100 service personnel have tested positive for COVID-19.

In a letter to Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, Mr Healey said test results should be published, and also urged him to postpone large-scale training exercises to protect personnel.

He also said personnel should be withdrawn from non-essential overseas postings to places where it is easier to protect them from coronavirus

His call comes after more than 600 crew members of a French aircraft carrier and accompanying vessels tested positive for coronavirus.

Earlier this week, the US Navy announced the death of a sailor who tested positive for COVID-19 on board USS Theodore Roosevelt. 

The Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth is reportedly due to set sail on a training exercise later this month.

“Coronavirus is showing again how our Armed Forces help keep us safe. It is vital the Government does everything it can to keep them safe too," Mr Healey said.

“Ministers should step up measures to protect military personnel from coronavirus, including making testing available and publishing the results, postponing large-scale training events wherever needed and supporting personnel deployed overseas.”

In response, the Ministry of Defence said: “We welcome dialogue on the important work of Armed Forces during this global crisis, and how to keep them safe while they do their vital job.

"The safety and wellbeing of our people is of the utmost importance and we have issued advice in line with the guidance from the NHS. We keep our advice and procedures under constant review."

The Liberal Democrats' defence spokesperson, Jamie Stone MP, said 13,000 personnel being absent from their usual place of work on Thursday was "deeply concerning".

"They have been crucial to our response to the pandemic, providing specialists to local resilience groups, our local authorities, and emergency services," he said.

"Our Armed Forces must have all the PPE they need and access to testing if they are to effectively combat coronavirus. It is not enough to say thank you."

Cover image: Soldiers help build the NHS Nightingale Hospital in London (Picture: Crown Copyright).