Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth's latest mission delayed after sailors test positive for Covid-19

HMS Queen Elizabeth was due to set sail from her home city of Portsmouth this afternoon but the plans was axed at the 11th-hour, without warning.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman confirmed that ‘fewer than 10’ members of the 1,000-strong crew had tested positive for the coronavirus and had been taken ashore to be put into isolation in barracks.

Other sailors who had contact with their infected crew-mates will isolate on board the 65,000 tonne ship.

It is the second time the carrier has had to postpone its sailing after two crew members tested positive for Covid-19 in April.

A Royal Navy spokesman said: ‘A small number of HMS Queen Elizabeth’s personnel have tested positive for Covid during routine preparation for sailing.

‘Those affected have been isolated and are working with the NHS Test and Trace system to ensure the virus does not spread further.

‘The crew will continue to follow appropriate health guidelines and the HMS Queen Elizabeth will depart once their status has been confirmed.’

The mighty vessel’s latest stint at sea will see her working with a small Nato task group of other warships.

Also embarked on the aircraft carrier will be a number of British and American F-35B stealth jets.

The fearsome warplanes are the most advance in the world. It’s expected that about dozen will join Queen Elizabeth at sea, in the largest cohort of jets seen on a British warship in well over a decade.

American aviators from the US Marine Corps arrived at RAF Marham last week to prepare for the role.

SEE ALSO: Former navy captain looks at the history of the Senior Service

Queen Elizabeth will be at sea for several weeks.

She is due to deploy on her first operational mission early next year, which will she her travelling across the world.

Her sister ship, HMS Prince of Wales, is expected to undertaker its maiden operational deployment in 2023.

Looking for the latest Royal Navy updates from Portsmouth? Join our new Royal Navy news Facebook group to keep up to date.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

Thank you for reading this story. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on our advertisers and thus our revenues.

The News is more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription to support our journalism.

You can subscribe here for unlimited access to Portsmouth news and information online.

Every subscription helps us continue providing trusted, local journalism and campaign on your behalf for our city.