Covid outbreak hits Royal Navy flotilla including 'at least 100 HMS Queen Elizabeth crew after sailors went partying in Cyprus'
- The virus has affected nearly half of the vessels in the Royal Navy flotilla
- All HMS Queen Elizabeth crew were double jabbed before stopping in Limassol
- Surge testing and staggered meal times are in place to limit further infections
A major Covid outbreak has struck a Royal Navy flotilla including 100 crew of the flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth after sailors allegedly went partying in Cyprus.
The virus has affected nearly half of the vessels in the most powerful flotilla to sail from Britain since the Falklands War.
All crew on the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth have been double jabbed but were still struck down by the virus.
A major Covid outbreak has struck a Royal Navy flotilla including 100 crew of the flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth (pictured) after sailors allegedly went partying in Cyprus
The strike group's 3,700-strong crew had stopped in the southern Cypriot city of Limassol before the outbreak.
Sources told The Sun that no one needed sick bay admission and the infections numbers are starting to fall.
But the ships will have to stay for another three weeks and their scheduled port calls could be postponed if cases rise.
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The aircraft carrier is about a quarter of the way through a 28-week deployment leading the CSG, which includes a US destroyer and 10 Marine Corps F35-B fighters, and is currently in the Indo-Pacific.
The carrier strike group's commander, Commodore Steve Moorhouse, ordered all crew to carry out surge testing and stagger dinner times to limit potential contact between crewmates.
It is at least the third time the HMS Queen Elizabeth has been rocked by the virus which has also affected US and French warships.
Last year, a US Nimitz aircraft carrier was out of action for weeks after 900 crew tested positive for the virus.
A Royal Navy spokesman said in a statement: 'As part of routine testing, a small number of crew from the Carrier Strike Group have tested positive for Covid-19.
'All personnel deployed in the UK CSG have received both doses of the Covid vaccine and there are a number of mitigation measures on board 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.'
A defence source added: 'Affected personnel are under medical supervision and are isolating on their respective ships.'
It comes after Defence Secretary Ben Wallace on Tuesday pointed to the deployment as an example of the way UK and US militaries were able to operate 'seamlessly' together.
The Ministry of Defence also confirmed an investigation was being undertaken after a crew member of Type 23 frigate HMS Kent, also part of the CSG, died.
The frigate recently visited Greece where senior figures from the Greek navy visited and the crew had a chance to tour a classic Greek warship.
