Top US general for Horn of Africa declares public healthy emergency over coronavirus

The head of U.S. forces in East Africa on Thursday declared a public health emergency for the several thousand American troops, civilians and contractors based in Djibouti due to the coronavirus.

U.S. Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) head Maj. Gen. Michael Turello made the declaration, which applies to all U.S. service members, Defense Department civilians and contractors under his authority at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, the nearby Chabelley Airfield and those working at the Port of Djibouti.

“Combating COVID-19 is my top priority,” Turello said in a CJTF-HOA statement. “By declaring a public health emergency, it keeps our forces, and those of our host nation partner, as healthy and as safe as possible.”

Housing roughly 3,000 American troops, Camp Lemonnier is the U.S. military’s largest installation on the continent.

Though there has only been one confirmed coronavirus case in Djibouti — a contractor — the public health emergency declaration is being labeled as a “precautionary measure that gives the commander increased authorities to better manage, prevent and mitigate potential risk to the force,” according to a CJTF-HOA statement.

The Pentagon has previously taken precautionary measures in Africa due to the coronavirus, with U.S. Africa Command last month canceling several multinational military exercises set for March and April.

The latest declaration gives Turello greater power in making sure DOD civilians and contractors comply with measures meant to prevent the spread of the illness and allows him to repurpose any facility at the Djibouti Base Cluster installation to respond to the virus.

“We are doing our part to contain the virus and minimize its impact. This is how we work in the current environment,” Turello said in the statement.

The public health emergency is effective for 30 days and CJTF-HOA said it will work with interagency and host nation partners to determine whether to extend the declaration.