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US Defense Sec admits military readiness could be affected by Covid-19, insists Pentagon can still conduct ‘national missions’ US Defense Sec admits military readiness could be affected by Covid-19, insists Pentagon can still conduct ‘national missions’
(32 minutes later)
In a Pentagon briefing on Monday, US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper revealed that coronavirus could impact the readiness of the country’s military if the spread of the devastating illness is not slowed.In a Pentagon briefing on Monday, US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper revealed that coronavirus could impact the readiness of the country’s military if the spread of the devastating illness is not slowed.
“If this pandemic continues at the scale and scope of what some are predicting, over time you could start seeing an impact on [military] readiness,” said Esper, though he added he does not foresee the military being affected enough for it to be incapable of conducting “national missions.”“If this pandemic continues at the scale and scope of what some are predicting, over time you could start seeing an impact on [military] readiness,” said Esper, though he added he does not foresee the military being affected enough for it to be incapable of conducting “national missions.”
Part of the US military’s responsibilities during the pandemic will be setting up field hospitals in cities like New York and Seattle, Esper revealed. Part of the US military’s responsibilities during the pandemic will be setting up field hospitals in cities like New York and Seattle, Esper revealed. 
The secretary says he’s waiting on approval from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to move forward with the plan.The secretary says he’s waiting on approval from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to move forward with the plan.
“We’ll be moving out this week,” he told reporters.“We’ll be moving out this week,” he told reporters.
The military is already on the ground in cities like New York to help expand hospital capacity as the outbreak worsens in the US. Esper admitted, however, that the Pentagon “can’t meet everyone’s needs” when it comes to states requesting help. All requests go through FEMA, where they are classified according to priority. The military is already on the ground in cities like New York to help expand hospital capacity as the outbreak worsens in the US. Esper admitted, however, that the Pentagon “can’t meet everyone’s needs” when it comes to states requesting help. All requests go through FEMA, where they are classified according to priority. 
Deployment of National Guard soldiers in certain states has led to fear of an impending announcement of martial law, something Esper insists is not happening, with military personal solely focused on increasing hospital and testing capacity. 
The Maryland National Guard had to officially announce there was "no threat of martial law" over the weekend to help calm the fears of residents concerned with the sight of military vehicles moving through the streets, as well as reports that the Pentagon is mulling the military taking a larger role in the coronavirus response. 
The coronavirus spread has lowered staff actually serving in the Pentagon by about 60 percent. Esper says thousands of tests are done each day to check US service members for the disease, with multiple labs specifically designated to conduct the tests. The coronavirus spread has lowered staff actually serving in the Pentagon by about 60 percent. Esper says thousands of tests are done each day to check US service members for the disease, with multiple labs specifically designated to conduct the tests. 
Concerns over the disease have also led to the US military being affected in overseas missions. Bases in South Korea have been put on lockdown and participation in military drills like NATO's 'Defender Europe 2020' have been halted. 20,000 American troops were expected to take part in the drill, but were kept home over coronavirus fears.
The US Defense Department revealed earlier on Monday that 133 soldiers have contracted coronavirus, which is a large uptick from the 67 reported on Friday to have contracted the disease. Seven soldiers remain hospitalized, while four have recovered. The US Defense Department revealed earlier on Monday that 133 soldiers have contracted coronavirus, which is a large uptick from the 67 reported on Friday to have contracted the disease. Seven soldiers remain hospitalized, while four have recovered. 
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