---
title: "Pentagon announces first death from COVID-19"
description: "A contractor at the Defense Security Cooperation Agency died on Saturday after testing positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)."
date: "2020-03-22"
modified: "2020-03-22"
authors:
  - name: "Haley Britzky"
    job_title: "Former Army Reporter"
    link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/haley-britzky/"
url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/contractor-death-coronavirus/"
categories:
  - "Around the World"
  - "News"
  - "United States"
tags:
  - "Covid-19"
  - "Pentagon"
---

# Pentagon announces first death from COVID-19

![](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/22674422.jpg>)

The Defense Department announced on Sunday that a contractor has died after testing positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

- The man — a Crystal City, Virginia-based contractor with the Defense Security Cooperation Agency — passed away on Saturday, per the DoD release.
- It is the first death reported among DoD cases.
- The contractor was "under medical treatment at a local hospital" since testing positive for the virus.
- Per DoD, his workspace at DSCA was cleaned when he tested positive, and his coworkers have been teleworking.
- "Our condolences go out to his family, friends and co-workers and we thank the medical professionals who worked to save his life in the face of this virus," the release says.

## Author
Haley Britzky was the Task & Purpose Army reporter from 2019 to 2022. She previously worked at Axios covering breaking news. She reports on important developments within the service, from new uniforms to new policies; the realities of military life facing soldiers and their families; and broader cultural issues that expand outside of the Army, touching each of the military services.Â

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/haley-britzky-b09022a0/>)  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/halbritz>)