JACKSONVILLE, FLa. – The Navy is the first branch of the army to remove COVID-19 restrictions for sailors who are fully vaccinated.

The changes were announced Monday afternoon.

“With more than a year operating in the COVID environment, we have gained significant experience in mitigating and preventing the spread of COVID-19,” said Vice Admiral Phil Sawyer, Deputy Director of Naval Operations, Plans and Strategy in a press. release. “Now, with vaccines and scientific data from the CDC, we can relax many of the procedures we put in place and still provide the health protection of the force.”

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According to the new guide, fully vaccinated sailors will not have to quarantine for 14 days prior to deployment. However, those who are not vaccinated will.

Vaccinated sailors abroad can also use services such as gyms and laundries.

Sawyer said: “Science is pretty clear, vaccinations are key to better protecting our sailors. The more sailors are vaccinated, the better for them, their families, the Navy and the Nation. “

232,328 Navy members are fully vaccinated and 86,297 doses of vaccine were administered to Navy members at the Jacksonville Navy-supported community vaccination center.

Rick Hoffman, retired Navy captain and executive director of the Jacksonville Area Ship Repair Association, said it was a step in the right direction.

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“When I went to sea, I had no additional people. If five of my sailors are ill, I will be operating with a substantial degradation of my ability to work, “he said.”[Vaccines] they are key to being able to provide the best service to our ships and sailors and keep them safe at sea ”.

Represents all companies in the Jacksonville area that perform repair work on Navy ships. He said vaccines were also helpful in moving towards a post-pandemic work environment.