Royal Navy flagship hit by virus after Cyprus stopover

The Royal Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth is managing a COVID-19 outbreak after more than 100 crew were infected during a stopover in Cyprus earlier in July, officials said Wednesday.

The first cases were identified on around 4 July when the state-of-the-art aircraft carrier was docked at Limassol port on the eastern Mediterranean island’s southern coast.

Britain’s largest warship docked in Limassol port from 30 June until 5 July, spearheading the largest UK peacetime deployment in a generation, Carrier Strike Group 21 (CSG21).

“As part of routine testing, a small number of crew from the Carrier Strike Group have tested positive for Covid-19,” said a Royal Navy spokesperson. All personnel deployed have received both doses of the Covid vaccine, and there are a number of mitigation measures onboard, including masks, social distancing and a track and trace system.

“The Carrier Strike Group will continue to deliver their operational tasks, and there are no effects on the deployment.”

According to the UK tabloid The Sun, almost half the warships in the Royal Navy’s carrier strike group have been hit by positive cases.

It said they include at least 100 crew of the HMS Queen Elizabeth after sailors “were given a run ashore in Limassol”.

During her five-day stay at Limassol port, HMS Queen Elizabeth welcomed dignitaries on board, such as Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades.

Ben Wallace, the UK defence secretary, said the outbreak had not yet prompted a rethink of the carrier strike group’s voyage to 40 countries.

There are 3,700 personnel across the entire carrier strike group, including the 1,600 on the HMS Queen Elizabeth.

Wallace told a press briefing on Tuesday: “Our crew are double vaccinated, so you’ll be glad to know there is no serious effects on any of the crew, and we will manage it.”

Cyprus is suffering a fourth wave of coronavirus driven by the aggressive Delta variant, with infections hitting a record 1,081 on Tuesday.

The Republic of Cyprus has confirmed 86,185 cases and 382 deaths in the past 16 months of the pandemic.