San Diego Sailor, Second Marine Test Positive For Coronavirus

UPDATE: 2:20 p.m, March 14, 2020:

A sailor from Naval Base San Diego has tested positive for the coronavirus, the Navy announced Saturday afternoon.

The news came after Marine Corps Air Station Miramar reported a second Marine there also tested positive for COVID-19.

Both cases are considered presumptive positive and are awaiting confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The sailor is being isolated at home, the Navy said.

Original story:

A second Marine stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar has tested positive for the coronavirus, base officials announced Saturday.

The Marine is in isolation and receiving medical care at the base, Capt. Matthew Gregory said. The air station is currently conducting an investigation to notify anyone who may have come into contact with the unidentified servicemember, he said.

This case does not appear to be related to the first case where a Marine contracted COVID-19 while on leave in Washington state, Gregory said. However, he notes the contact investigation is still ongoing.

RELATED: 3 More People Test Positive For Coronavirus In San Diego

The Marine, who lives on base, reported feeling sick and was transferred to Naval Medical Center San Diego where he tested positive.

“The health and safety of our military service members, their families, and our San Diego neighbors is the paramount concern of the command as the events around COVID-19 continue to unfold,” Gregory said in a statement. “We continue to work closely with our federal, county, and city partners to ensure we do everything we can to mitigate the effects of the virus and prevent more cases from arising.”

The base is currently housing nearly 500 passengers from the Grand Princess cruise ship, who are under a federally mandatory 14-day quarantine. Neither Marines had any contact with the passengers.