**** DND Media Release
COVID-19 Case on Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Halifax
On Sunday, 18 July, 2021, while enroute back to Halifax from OPERATION REASSURANCE, Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Halifax conducted Rapid Antigen Detection Tests (RADT) COVID-19 tests of the ship’s company as part of their pre-arrival protocols and one member received a non-negative result for COVID-19.
This result was confirmed by a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test with a positive result.
The member is asymptomatic, is feeling fine, and has been isolated from the remainder of the ship as a precaution. The remainder of the ship’s company had negative results when tested and none of them are showing any symptoms.
The ship will arrive alongside at HMC Dockyard at 9:00 am, Monday, 19 July, as planned, however the ship’s company will remain embarked until PCR tests are conducted of the entire crew including the member with the positive test and the results are received. Once the results are known, the way ahead will be determined by Maritime Forces Atlantic in consultation with the provincial Health Authorities.
This news has been passed to the ship’s families and additional information will be provided as soon as a plan is in place.
It is unfortunate we cannot enjoy a traditional welcome home from a long deployment but our priority is the health and safety of our sailors and their families and we will do what we can to ensure that their reunion takes place as quickly and safely as possible.
