U.S. Army soldier at Fort Leonard Wood tests positive for COVID-19
A soldier at Fort Leonard Wood has tested positive for COVID-19, the military base said in a statement Saturday afternoon.
It marks the first positive case of U.S. Army personnel at the installation, which is located in south-central Missouri.
According to the statement, the solider had recently traveled to New York and Florida and was screened and placed in isolation upon returning to Fort Leonard Wood.
Military and health professionals are in the process of contacting people the soldier may have had contact with over the past two weeks.
The base is continuing to screen soldiers, civilians and family members who have traveled outside the state.
“Our people - military, civilians and families - and their health, welfare and safety are our highest priority,” the statement said. “Fort Leonard Wood leadership remain in close coordination with state and federal authorities, and local public health authorities to coordinate prevention and response efforts in the local area and to ensure the well-being of our personnel and local population.”
Statewide, at least 73 cases of the novel coronavirus have been reported since Friday night, and three people have died from the disease.
This story was originally published March 21, 2020 at 8:10 PM.
