The US Department of Defense has put its military on alert in case panic breaks out onto the streets over the coronavirus. The army is in “a state of readiness” in case they are called upon to “maintain order, contain outbreaks and be ready for combat”. This comes as the US confirmed it had set up quarantine centres at 15 military facilities across the country in house those who are infected.
It is the first time the US has enforced a large-scale quarantine for over a century – since the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918.
In a memo sent to Navy and Marine Corps commanders, the Department of Defense urged preparation for an imminent coronavirus “pandemic”.
Commanders are now reviewing their plans for containing the disease in the event that it breaks out among military personnel and to play a role, if necessary, in help authorities contain the disease in the general public in the US and abroad.
They were ordered “to check on preparedness plans to ensure military members can help maintain order, contain outbreaks and be ready for combat”.
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The exact scenario where combat would be deployed in the case of the coronavirus was not specified in the memo.
Navy Lt Commander Mike Hatfield told the Military Times that planning for an event “does not indicate a greater likelihood of an event developing”.
He added: “As military professionals, planning for a range of contingencies is something we owe the American people.”
The US and other countries have evacuated citizens from Wuhan, China, because of a coronavirus outbreak that has killed at least 1,380 people and infected more than 66,000.
The additional locations can house up to 20 people, but these have not been used yet.
The CDC said “There will likely be additional cases in the coming days and weeks, including among other people recently returned from Wuhan.”
On Thursday, the CDC confirmed a 15th case of the virus in the US. Nearly all of the confirmed U.S. coronavirus cases have been in individuals who had recently traveled in China.
Earlier today, France’s health minister announced the first coronavirus death in Europe, after an 80-year-old Chinese tourist died overnight.