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15 West Point Cadets Test Positive for Coronavirus 15 West Point Cadets Test Positive for Coronavirus
(5 days later)
At least 15 of the graduating cadets who returned to West Point ahead of President Trump’s commencement speech in June tested positive for the coronavirus, according to a U.S. Army spokeswoman.At least 15 of the graduating cadets who returned to West Point ahead of President Trump’s commencement speech in June tested positive for the coronavirus, according to a U.S. Army spokeswoman.
None of those cadets had coronavirus symptoms, and the virus had not spread from them to any other cadets among the class of 1,106 since they returned to the U.S. Military Academy last week, the spokeswoman, Col. Sunset Belinsky, said on Tuesday. She said that the academy learned that the 15 had the coronavirus after all cadets were tested immediately upon arriving on campus. The cadets who tested positive were immediately isolated.None of those cadets had coronavirus symptoms, and the virus had not spread from them to any other cadets among the class of 1,106 since they returned to the U.S. Military Academy last week, the spokeswoman, Col. Sunset Belinsky, said on Tuesday. She said that the academy learned that the 15 had the coronavirus after all cadets were tested immediately upon arriving on campus. The cadets who tested positive were immediately isolated.
“The Army and West Point have done meticulous planning to ensure the health and safety of the returning cadets of the U.S. Military Academy’s class of 2020,” Colonel Belinsky said. “There is mandatory screening for all, and we’ve had a small number — about 1.5 percent — test positive. This was anticipated.”“The Army and West Point have done meticulous planning to ensure the health and safety of the returning cadets of the U.S. Military Academy’s class of 2020,” Colonel Belinsky said. “There is mandatory screening for all, and we’ve had a small number — about 1.5 percent — test positive. This was anticipated.”
In April, Mr. Trump abruptly said he would speak at West Point after the cadets had already been sent home because of concerns about the coronavirus. The president’s announcement came one day before Vice President Mike Pence delivered the commencement address at the Air Force Academy graduation ceremony in Colorado.In April, Mr. Trump abruptly said he would speak at West Point after the cadets had already been sent home because of concerns about the coronavirus. The president’s announcement came one day before Vice President Mike Pence delivered the commencement address at the Air Force Academy graduation ceremony in Colorado.
The speech is scheduled to take place June 13. Before Mr. Trump’s surprise announcement, West Point officials had said they were not sure when the graduation ceremony would be held or whether it was a good idea to have it.The speech is scheduled to take place June 13. Before Mr. Trump’s surprise announcement, West Point officials had said they were not sure when the graduation ceremony would be held or whether it was a good idea to have it.
Mr. Trump faced criticism at the time of his announcement. Senator Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat of Illinois, condemned the decision to gather cadets at West Point for a speech during a public health crisis.Mr. Trump faced criticism at the time of his announcement. Senator Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat of Illinois, condemned the decision to gather cadets at West Point for a speech during a public health crisis.
“Trump’s reckless decision to gather 1,000 Cadets at West Point for a speech puts our future military leaders at increased risk — all to stroke his own ego,” she said in a statement in April. “Our troops need stable, consistent leadership during volatile times like these, not a commander-in-chief who values his own photo ops and TV ratings over their health and safety.”“Trump’s reckless decision to gather 1,000 Cadets at West Point for a speech puts our future military leaders at increased risk — all to stroke his own ego,” she said in a statement in April. “Our troops need stable, consistent leadership during volatile times like these, not a commander-in-chief who values his own photo ops and TV ratings over their health and safety.”
The White House did not respond to a request for comment about the coronavirus cases on Tuesday evening.The White House did not respond to a request for comment about the coronavirus cases on Tuesday evening.
When Mr. Trump announced in April that he would speak at the graduation, he told reporters that he did not like the look of a socially distanced graduation and that he hoped the “look” of the ceremony would be “nice and tight.”When Mr. Trump announced in April that he would speak at the graduation, he told reporters that he did not like the look of a socially distanced graduation and that he hoped the “look” of the ceremony would be “nice and tight.”
West Point officials said that they had been taken aback by the impromptu announcement. They said they had been reviewing graduation options, and Mr. Trump pre-empted their planning.West Point officials said that they had been taken aback by the impromptu announcement. They said they had been reviewing graduation options, and Mr. Trump pre-empted their planning.
Updated August 27, 2020 Updated September 1, 2020
The coronavirus cases among the cadets underscore the difficult challenge universities face as some prepare for students to return in the fall.The coronavirus cases among the cadets underscore the difficult challenge universities face as some prepare for students to return in the fall.
The University of Notre Dame said the fall semester would begin and end earlier than usual, without breaks, to minimize the chances for students to bring the coronavirus to campus. But even with stringent protocols in place, like those put in place at West Point, the virus can spread.The University of Notre Dame said the fall semester would begin and end earlier than usual, without breaks, to minimize the chances for students to bring the coronavirus to campus. But even with stringent protocols in place, like those put in place at West Point, the virus can spread.
The Naval Academy had decided not to recall its nearly 1,000 graduating midshipmen to Annapolis, Md., for a commencement this year because of the risk of the coronavirus spreading.The Naval Academy had decided not to recall its nearly 1,000 graduating midshipmen to Annapolis, Md., for a commencement this year because of the risk of the coronavirus spreading.
The Air Force Academy, however, sent home its underclassmen, locked down its seniors on campus — and went ahead with plans for Mr. Pence to be its speaker. During Mr. Pence’s speech in Colorado Springs in April, cadets marched six feet apart and sat eight feet apart.The Air Force Academy, however, sent home its underclassmen, locked down its seniors on campus — and went ahead with plans for Mr. Pence to be its speaker. During Mr. Pence’s speech in Colorado Springs in April, cadets marched six feet apart and sat eight feet apart.