The U.S. Navy has ordered ships in the Pacific Ocean that have visited "countries with moderate or greater risk" of the coronavirus to "remain at sea for at least 14 days before pulling into another port," reports CNN.
"Out of an abundance of caution, Pacific Fleet is implementing additional mitigations to prevent Sailors from contracting COVID-19, and to monitor Sailors who have traveled to higher-risk areas," U.S. Navy spokesman Lt. James Adam told the news outlet.
The virus, which originated in Wuhan, China, late last year, has resulted in more than 82,000 global cases with infections in every continent except Antarctica. At least 11 European countries now have confirmed cases of coronavirus, some of which have been traced back to Italy, and 2,800 people worldwide have died.
A U.S. Navy spokesperson told CNN, while "there are no indications that any U.S. Navy personnel have contracted Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)" at this time, Pacific Fleet "is implementing additional mitigations to prevent Sailors from contracting COVID-19.
"The health and welfare of our sailors, civilians and their families is paramount and our efforts are directed at detection and, if required, prevention of the spread of this illness," the spokesman said.