SOCOM boss tests positive for COVID-19

Army Gen. Army Richard Clarke is working from home this week after testing positive for COVID-19 on Sunday.

Clarke is fully vaccinated , according to a Monday release, and has received a booster.

“He has very mild symptoms and is able to fully perform all his duties remotely,” the release said.

Clarke, who works out of MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, has not met in person with any of DoD’s civilian leadership, or the Joint Chiefs of Staff, since the new year, according to the release.

Unrelatedly, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger have contracted COVID-19 this month.

Austin’s office announced Jan. 3 that he had tested positive, with mild symptoms. He was back in the office Jan. 10, after symptoms had subsided. The Pentagon requires masks unless individuals are alone in an office with a closed door.

Both Milley and Berger announced they had tested positive on Jan. 17 and would be working remotely.

DoD policy requires anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 to isolate for at least five days, or until symptoms improve, then wear a mask at work for another five days regardless of local mask rules.

Meghann Myers is the Pentagon bureau chief at Military Times. She covers operations, policy, personnel, leadership and other issues affecting service members.

陆军上将理查德·克拉克在周日新冠病毒检测呈阳性后，本周在家办公。

根据周一发布的消息，克拉克已完成疫苗接种，并已接种加强针。

新闻稿称：“他的症状非常轻微，能够远程完全履行所有职责。”

据新闻稿称，在佛罗里达州麦克迪尔空军基地工作的克拉克自新年以来还没有与国防部任何文职领导或参谋长联席会议成员进行过面对面的会晤。

另外，国防部长劳埃德·奥斯汀、参谋长联席会议主席陆军上将马克·米利以及海军陆战队司令戴维·伯杰上将本月均感染了新冠病毒。

奥斯汀的办公室于1月3日宣布他的新冠病毒检测呈阳性，症状轻微。1月10日，症状消退后，他已返回办公室。五角大楼规定，除非独自一人在关着门的办公室里，否则必须佩戴口罩。

米利和伯杰均于1月17日宣布他们的检测结果呈阳性，并将远程办公。

美国国防部政策要求任何 COVID-19 检测呈阳性的人至少隔离五天，或直到症状改善，然后无论当地口罩规定如何，都必须在工作中佩戴口罩五天。

梅根·迈尔斯是《军事时报》五角大楼分社社长。她负责报道影响军人的作战、政策、人事、领导力及其他相关议题。