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Pentagon planning to ban new military recruits hospitalised due to COVID-19

WION Web Team
Washington, United StatesUpdated: May 07, 2020, 11:19 AM IST
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File photo. Photograph:(Reuters)

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The guidance is being put in place because there is little understanding of the 'long-term' effects of the virus and there is a concern that potential recruits who have been hospitalized may need further medical assessments.

The US Department of Defense is considering to ban new recruits from joining the military if they have been hospitalised for due to coronavirus, according to a defense official.

They will not be exempted unless they get a waiver from the service they want to sign up with.

The official said the guidance is being put in place because there is little understanding of the "long-term" effects of the virus and there is a concern that potential recruits who have been hospitalized may need further medical assessments.

The new policy is being finalized to set medical restrictions on recruits who may have tested positive or have been treated for Covid-19.

There is a particular concern over whether a sufficient number of recruits will be able to join before a rigorous enough testing regime is in place to ensure they are healthy enough to enter training.

Department of Defense medical waivers are required for a wide variety of medical conditions ranging from heart disease to a loss of vision.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper said at the Pentagon Tuesday that the department would randomly test groups of people "to understand how many asymptomatic or carriers are maybe out there."