This story was last updated Dec. 23.
As COVID-19 continues to spread to communities across the country, the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs are providing daily updates on the number of confirmed and presumptive cases of the virus in the military community, as well as the number of tests administered to military members.
As of Dec. 23, officials said there have now been 154,620 total cases of COVID-19, also known as the novel coronavirus, within the DoD: 101,236 military, 16,058 dependents, 27,761 civilians and 9,565 Defense Department contractors. In addition, 62,549 military members, 9,685 dependents, 14,329 civilians and 5,460 contractors have recovered, and 165 DoD-connected personnel have died: 14 troops, nine dependents, 103 civilians and 39 contractors.
Of the cases, 2,196 have required hospitalization, officials said: 886 service members, 822 civilians, 199 dependents and 289 contractors.
DoD began releasing service-specific case data April 3. There have now been 36,120 Army cases; 18,833 Air Force cases; 12,134 Marine Corps cases; and 21,003 Navy cases. There are also 12,450 cases within the National Guard, and 696 among other elements.
The Defense Department announced the first military-connected coronavirus death March 22: a DoD contractor based in Falls Church, Virginia who worked for the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.
The first military dependent died March 26 at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia.
On March 30, the Defense Department announced the first death of a U.S. service member from the disease: Capt. Douglas Linn Hickok, 57, of the New Jersey Army National Guard.
On May 22, an Army reservist, 34-year-old Sgt. Simon Zamudio, also died from COVID-19.
On March 14, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced the first VA-connected fatality due to coronavirus: a veteran in his 70s in the VA Portland, Oregon, health care system who had "underlying health issues."
As of Dec. 23, VA is also tracking 144,255 total cumulative positive cases among veterans and VA employees. It began releasing totals for both populations May 4. It is no longer breaking the numbers down by presumptive positives and positives confirmed by the CDC. A total of 6,248 veterans tracked by the VA have died.
VA officials say they have administered more than 1,095,016 coronavirus tests as of Dec. 11, and add they believe they have enough to meet demand.
Troops or veterans who believe they have symptoms of the virus, which can include shortness of breath, fever and a cough, are advised to call their health care provider or VA facility right away. Military members are also advised to stay home and notify their supervisor.
-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.
