Nld-Warship-L801

Military personnel on board of four Dutch navy ships have been tested positive for the corona virus. Two ships were in the Mediterranean, where they had participated in a NATO exercise in recent days. One infection was found on the HNLMS 'Rotterdam', and two soldiers tested positive on the HNLMS 'Johan de Witt'. The infected soldiers were already isolated from the others on the ship because they showed mild symptoms. They were taken on a medical flight to the Netherlands. The rest of the crew returns to the Netherlands after a logistical stop. In Den Helder, infections have been detected on board the HNLMS 'Van Speijk', on which four soldiers were tested positive, and the HNLMS 'Karel Doorman' aboard which one crew member was tested positive. All soldiers haat first spent a period in home quarantine before embarking. It was not known where the infected soldiers became infected. Contact investigations were carried out and, where necessary, other crew members have been placed in isolation to prevent further infections. Additional measures have been taken to prevent the virus from spreading.