why is military banning covid survivors
The current widespread prevalence of the coronavirus affects these programs. The Pentagon's ill-advised new "interim" recruiting policy could cause precisely the harm to service members that it seeks to avoid. Survivors could even be at greater risk to re-contract the virus if their immune system and organs retain long-lasting damage. For the militarys purposes, whether it causes irreparable lung damage could figure heavily in terms of combat readiness. The U.S. military is banning enlistment for anyone who was been hospitalized for COVID-19, a Pentagon official told CBS News' David Martin. Editors note: In mid-May 2020, the Defense Department updated its accessions guidance, removing policy barriers to COVID-19 survivors joining the services. Jose Rodriguez/US Army Last month, the military turned itself. A readout of coronavirus cases within the U.S. military, provided to American Military News by the Pentagon, currently lists more than 5,300 active military personnel as having been diagnosed with coronavirus, 115 of which have been hospitalized. COVID-19 survivors talk about challenges to recovery months after Retired US Army Col. Christopher Kolenda speaks to host Marco Werman about the need of Afghans to develop their own strategy moving forward. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. The long-term impact may mean many soldiers would be forced to leave, a devastating outcome especially in the middle of a recruiting crisis as Defense Department officials struggle to fill the ranks. Specifically, it lays out guidelines for MEPS staff to deal with potential, as well as confirmed, coronavirus cases. A Pentagon spokeswoman confirmed toMilitary Times, which first reported on the new policy, that the memo is authentic. Some Covid-19 survivors are now struggling with guilt - Vox One in three Covid survivors suffers 'brain disease,' study finds - CNN Experts say there may be a link between severe post-COVID symptoms and increased suicide risks. Paul Scharre. Last week, President Biden raised eyebrows when he announced that federal civilian workers would be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19, or face measures such as frequent testing, yet didn't extend that mandate to members of the military.. Matthew Donovan, defense under secretary for personnel and readiness, said during the press conference that he had canceled that guidance in favor of reverting back to pre-coronavirus accessions standards. '", During the screening process, a reported history of confirmed COVID-19 will be annotated Considered disqualifying pic.twitter.com/ZKx91AUbXo. Fact Sheet: COVID-19 Military Personnel, Pay, and Benefits Policy Rescuers dig through quake rubble to find survivors. The official, citing the new guidance, explained that "individuals diagnosed or confirmed with COVID-19 but not hospitalized are medically qualified to process for accession 28 days following home isolation," but those "individuals diagnosed or confirmed with COVID-19 and hospitalized are medically disqualified for accession, subject to further review of hospitalization/comorbidity records, and waiver by a Service Medical Waiver Authority.". The initial guidance, a military recruitment memo from US Military Entrance Processing Command (MEPCOM) circulating on social media and first reported on by Military Times on Wednesday, said that a COVID-19 diagnosis, even after recovery, would be considered disqualifying. The Pentagon may no longer accept new recruits who have recovered from COVID-19, according to multiple reports. The United Nations Secretary-General Antnio Guterres said that the million coronavirus deaths were mind-numbing. Likewise, in-person official visits, professional conferences, and nonessential travel, which advance military objectives, have been suspended in an attempt to contain and mitigate the risks associated with this worrisome virus. COVID-19 'long haulers' fight for months with lingering symptoms Get the latest in military news, entertainment and gear in your inbox daily. Any infectious disease, we want to make sure theyre not infectious at the time. David Lat, 45, New York. A Pentagon official said this is "interim guidance" that will remain at least until more is known about the damage that the virus does to the lungs. The Hill reached out to the Pentagon for comment. It had been a week since Luis had been sick. Though more than20,000service members have reportedly contracted coronavirus so far, the number is likely higher due to the seemingly high percentage of asymptomatic carriers of the virus. The Navy hasn't granted any. Nathalie Grogan and Emma Moore, Center for a New American Security, overrepresented in the essential workforce.. However, there are outliers such as Texas Gov. . U.S. military bans anyone hospitalized for COVID-19 from enlisting Similarly, while the nation as a whole is likely to feel the effects of the virus, metro areas have thus far been hit hardest due to population density. For the military's purposes, whether it causes irreparable lung damage could figure heavily in terms of combat readiness. Of the population eligible for vaccination in Finland, 84% have received their first dose and 72% have received two doses. THE HILL 1625 K STREET, NW SUITE 900 WASHINGTON DC 20006 | 202-628-8500 TEL | 202-628-8503 FAX. However, without any further guidance for exceptions dealing with COVID-19, a review authority would have no justification to grant a waiver. In January COVID Survivors for Change held a training in how to effectively lobby legislators and followed it up with a lobby day in March to push for the Covid relief bill Congress was . Military begins discharging troops who refuse COVID-19 vaccine Banning COVID-19 survivors from military service is a recruiting mess Christopher D. Kolenda. A military recruitment memo sent out by the US Military Entrance Processing Command (MEPCOM) stated that individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 will not be allowed to join the military even after they recover. Those with COVID-19 were 39% more likely to have depressive disorders and 35% more likely to show an increased risk of incident anxiety disorders over the months after infection. The original policy, released earlier this month, began as atotal ban on recruits whohad been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past. If the soldiers continue to refuse the vaccine, the consequences could be even more dire. Read about the most current guidance here. The memo, first reported by the Military Times, says that during the prescreen process, an applicant's reported history of confirmed COVID-19 "will be annotated as 'Considered Disqualifying. Therefore, over 8% of . Military leaders recently announced that all 1.3 million active duty service . Learn more here. Shark Tanks Kevin OLeary blasts Ocasio-Cortez: She kills jobs by the Haley to hit Trump on spending record in closed-door Saturday speech, Trump asks for roughly six-month delay in New York fraud case. While much is unknown about the trajectory of the virus, if DoD stays the course of permanently disqualifying those with a history of COVID-related hospitalization, it assumes either a vaccine or herd immunity will alleviate cases long-term. Updated guidelines follow a 24-hour news cycle of confusion. The memo also arrives just as military recruiters prepare to face an onslaught of students deciding their post-graduate summer plans or evaluating whether to return to school in the fall. If soldiers, sailors, airmen, or Marines are ill with coronavirus, the flu, or something else, it can hurt their ability to fight if needed. Elizabeth, 49, knows she is . Advertisement "Many of our members are complaining that they [are] being gaslit. Covid-19 is something Yoga never wants to experience again and still fears, so when vaccination opened to his age group, he signed up right away and he has now had two jabs. Coronavirus survivors face heightened risk of kidney damage, study says U.S. U.S. military Travel Travel Ban Coronavirus. If you get health care coverage through Medicaid, you might be at risk of losing that coverage over the next year . Some 40,000 National Guard and 22,000 Reserve soldiers who refused to be vaccinated against COVID-19 are no longer allowed to participate in their military duties, also effectively cutting them off from some of their military benefits, Army officials announced Friday. COVID-19, Coronavirus Info for the Military | Military OneSource The Department of Defense medical waivers are usually . A memo by the United States Military Entrance Processing Command, as shared on Twitter and reported by . No Guard or Reserve soldiers have been approved for a religious exemption after nearly 3,000 requests. It's unclear how easy it will be for the Defense Department to enforce its decision to bar unvaccinated Guardsmen from pay and benefits. Individuals with severe enough cases to have suffered lung, heart, kidney, and brain damage would not be eligible for military service under the existing medical guidelines. Center for a New American Security (en-US), Constructing Regional Partnerships and Seizing Emerging Opportunities, General Mike Holmes, U.S. Air Force (Ret. Coronavirus Survivors May Be Barred from Joining the US Military And I think theyre almost done with that now, he said. After returning, a COVID-19 diagnoses will be marked permanently disqualifying, according to the memo. A person who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 will not be able to join the military, according to a memo recently issued from U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command. Coronavirus survivors will be barred from entering the military unless they are granted a waiver from the branch they are seeking to join, a defense official told Fox News, as the agency. Some states are also trying to prevent. There are fresh concerns that public support for ongoing military assistance may be waning. It sort of depends, he said. The Defense Department has rescinded a policy that banned recruits from enlisting in the military if they have been hospitalized for coronavirus, the Pentagon's head of manpower . The Department of Defense on Monday announced that three U.S. states are prohibited for travel by its service members because of the constant . I never realized: Airbnb hosts warn of scam taking advantage of Watch live: White House monkeypox response team holds briefing, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Those five days were days of restlessness, sorrow and depression.". At the same time, were having our health professionals and our doctors and researchers take a look at that and come up with any recommendations that theyll provide to me and the [defense] secretary, he said, adding that their final decision is forthcoming.