Naval Academy Increase COVID-19 Safety Measures Due To Uptick In Positive Cases
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) — The U.S. Naval Academy is tightening some of its COVID-19 mitigation measures starting immediately after an uptick in positive cases within the Brigade of Midshipmen, they announced Sunday evening.
This includes a return to a "full restriction of movement," the superintendent Vice Adm. Sean Buck said:
"While our midshipman population is young and healthy, and likely able to rebound from COVID-19, there are still too many unknowns with COVID-19 to take this situation lightly. The health and safety of our entire Naval Academy family is, and will remain, my highest priority while we continue to execute our mission of developing our future naval leaders. We need this to be an all-hands effort from our faculty, staff, coaches…this is not just a midshipman effort. Additionally, those who may have approved credentials to access the Yard -- such as sponsors, parents, active/Reserve/retired military -- shall refrain from visiting the Naval Academy, even to drop off deliveries, at this time in order to minimize the spread of this virus."
For a minimum of 10 days, these temporary measures will include bringing academic classes back to a remote classroom environment, eating all meals in dorm rooms and suspending all sports practices except varsity women's and men's basketball.
The men's basketball team will be allowed to participate in postseason play because the team has been isolated from the rest of the Brigade since last week.
The women's basketball team will not be participating in the Patriot League tournament due to a positive COVID-19 test within the program's Tier 1. The positive test occurred before they were able to be isolated.
Midshipmen are allowed to have outdoor physical activity for at most two hours a day, with only one other roommate allowed with them, and all midshipmen identified as "close contacts" will get daily antigen tests.
In addition, 98 midshipmen will move to a hotel in downtown Annapolis to free up isolation space at Bancroft Hall, the academy said Monday evening. The academy has a short-term contract with the Hilton Garden Inn on West Street, under which midshipmen will attend classes virtually and get meals from the hotel.
For more information on these restrictions, visit https://www.usna.edu/COVID-19.
For the latest information on coronavirus go to the Maryland Health Department's website or call 211. You can find all of WJZ's coverage on coronavirus in Maryland here.
