Coronavirus Impacts U.S. Military, Potential Ban for Recruits who have been Hospitalized by COVID-19
Posted on 05/09/2020
The highly-contagious Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) is having serious side effects for some people. A leaked memo revealed that the U.S. military is banning enlistment for anyone who was been hospitalized for COVID-19. The Pentagon is studying the impact of the virus and issued new guidance for examining an applicant’s history with the disease during the screening process. The major concern is the damage the coronavirus does to the lungs. Medical researchers are attempting to figure out how COVID-19 attacks the lungs.
However, people already in the military who are currently hospitalized with the virus will not automatically be disqualified from further service.
U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command issued a memo detailing new procedures for military applicants during the viral outbreak.
The situation is fluid and during the week of the released memo, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army General Mark Milley informed NPR that the latest version of the memo is a draft.
Memo
The initial memo disclosed that a person with a confirmed history of COVID-19 from a lab test or clinical diagnosis would be permanently disqualifying. Newer guidance is now letting people enlist who were not hospitalized.
