Coronavirus survivors banned from joining the military

[brooklynite]

Military Times

As the Defense Department negotiates its way through the coronavirus pandemic and its fallout, military entrance processing stations are working with new guidance when it comes to bringing COVID-19 survivors into the services.

A past COVID-19 diagnosis is a no-go for processing, according to a recently released MEPCOM memo circulating on Twitter.

“During the medical history interview or examination, a history of COVID-19, confirmed by either a laboratory test or a clinician diagnosis, is permanently disqualifying ...” the memo reads.

Link to tweet

[Aristus]

1. I trust this is just until a vaccine is developed.

That's one thing I love about the military: there are no anti-vaxxers in uniform. You get your immunizations or you go home.

[LisaL]

2. People who had covid and survived are the ones who might not even need a vaccine.

To ban them is bizarre if they recovered and are no longer infectious.

[Aristus]

4. So far, there's very little reliable evidence that recovered patients are immune.

There is conflicting data that can't confirm that recovery from COVID-19 creates immune anti-bodies.

[LisaL]

5. If recovered patients are not immune, how is a vaccine ever going to work?

[Aristus]

14. I don't know. I'm not an immunologist.

I'm sure there's a simple way of manipulating the virus to trigger the formation of immune antibodies.

[LisaL]

18. It already triggers formation of antibodies.

They wouldn't be doing anybody tests if it wasn't.

[Aristus]

19. But there doesn't seem to be any real evidence yet that the antibodies

are conferring immunity.

[totodeinhere]

17. We do not know if a vaccine is ever going to work or not. But on the chance that it might

vaccine development is continuing.

[Celerity]

24. it is the exact opposite of this, there is almost zero evidence that you are not immune (for now)

[Igel]

27. But it's fairly certain that those with a history of COVID-19

are more likely to be immune than those with no history of COVID-19.

[totodeinhere]

13. I don't think that we are to the point where we are sure of that. We don't know if people who

already had it are susceptible to reinfection or not. And we don't know if people in that situation might be contagious again or not. So I think that for the time being that policy makes sense. As we get better understanding then perhaps the guidelines could be changed.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

26. Organ damage (from covid) is a drain on military readiness. . . . nt

[RainCaster]

3. This is stupid beyond all reason

WTF?

[LisaL]

8. It certainly is.

Many young people with covid have minor to no symptoms. No more than a common cold. What sense makes it to ban them permanently once they recovered?
It's like banning every person who ever had a cold.

[xmas74]

11. Not really

As of this time they're uncertain if someone whose had it can catch it again. And there's no knowing if there are going to be long term effects to their health.

I don't think this will be permanent. I think this will be a wait and see for the near future

[totodeinhere]

20. I have to disagree with you. I would much rather see them err on the side of caution.

If this policy saves even one life then it's worth it. This policy is not set in stone and it can be revised as we get better understanding of what we are dealing with. We just don't know for sure what kind of immunity if any contracting the virus can produce.

[Renew Deal]

6. So are they going to discharge all those sailors?

This makes no sense.

[Ex Lurker]

12. This is for new enlistees

There are a lot of conditions that are disqualifying for initial entry that are not disqualifying if you develop it while you're on active duty.

[Turbineguy]

7. This is likely because we do not yet know

of the long term effect.

[LisaL]

10. So you ban people without ever knowing if they have any long term effects?

[totodeinhere]

22. For the time being, yes we do. And yes, this policy may produce some hardships.

Last edited Thu May 7, 2020, 12:07 PM - Edit history (1)

We are in an unprecedented situation and there may be no easy answers. Hopefully, as we obtain more information this policy can be revised.

[Ex Lurker]

16. +1. This is a prudent move for now. I expect it will be reversed eventually NT.

[Horse with no Name]

9. COVID does considerable organ damage

I’m wondering if this is the reason? They aren’t sure of long term effects on the body yet.

[LisaL]

15. A lot of young people are largely asymptomatic.

I really doubt they will have a considerable body damage if they had no or minor symptoms to begin with. And you can always give them a physical.

[Ex Lurker]

23. We don't know what we don't know

What if two years down the road, previously recovered people start developing COPD? Or it's found to be a carcinogen? It's probably unlikely, but it's not impossible. The military has spent, in some cases, hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars training these people and now they're medically unfit for duty. Like I said upthread, this is a temporary measure and I expect it will be rescinded once we have conclusive knowledge of what this virus is up to-if for no other reason that so many people will have it the military can't exclude them all. But for now it's a judicious policy.

[Renew Deal]

21. Not for everyone or even most people

[LonePirate]

25. Talk about gutting the military! There will be no new service members at all in a few months.