Leaked Pentagon memo warns of a 'globally-persistent' coronavirus until summer of 2021 with no vaccine before then and the 'real possibility of a resurgence'

A leaked Pentagon memo is said to have warned of a 'globally-persistent' coronavirus lasting until the summer of 2021, with no vaccine before then. 

The unsigned document, seen by Task and Purpose, also details the 'real possibility of a resurgence' of COVID-19 in the coming months. 

It is said to have been written for Secretary of Defense Mark Esper by assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and global security Kenneth Rapuano. 

The memo reads: 'All indications suggest we will be operating in a globally-persistent COVID-19 environment in the months ahead.

'This will likely continue until there is wide-scale immunity, through immunization, and some immunity post-recovery from the virus.'

Laying out a framework for the military going forward it adds: 'We have a long path ahead, with the real possibility of a resurgence of COVID-19.

'Therefore, we must now re-focus our attention on resuming critical missions, increasing levels of activity, and making necessary preparations should a significant resurgence of COVID-19 occur later this year.'

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A pharmacist gives Jennifer Haller, left, the first shot in the first-stage safety study clinical trial of a potential vaccine for COVID-19 in March this year. A leaked Pentagon memo is said to have warned of a 'globally-persistent' coronavirus lasting until the summer of 2021

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The memo marks a decidedly different tone to that from Esper at a press conference alongside Donald Trump last week. 'Winning matters, and we will deliver by the end of this year a vaccine, at scale, to treat the American people,' said Defense Secretary Mark Esper

A Pentagon official told The Hill: 'Senior DoD officials have discussed the development of a plan to reduce Health Protection Conditions around the world and continue the 2020 summer move cycle safely. The note suggest outbreaks will occur in 'clusters' but warns testing 'will not provide 100% assurance of the absence' of the virus. 

'The plans have not been approved by senior DoD leaders yet, and we're not going to discuss what might be in the final version of those plans.'

The memo marks a decidedly different tone to that from Esper at a press conference alongside Donald Trump last week.  

'Winning matters, and we will deliver by the end of this year a vaccine, at scale, to treat the American people,' said Defense Secretary Mark Esper.

The military will be deployed to deliver the vaccine once it is developed and tested.

'We will deliver, we will win this fight,' Esper said.

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The unsigned document details the 'real possibility of a resurgence' of COVID-19 

The president said he wants a coronavirus vaccine developed and produced by the end of the year. He announced a new initiative, Operation Warp Speed, to make that happen.

'Its objective is to finish developing and then to manufacture and distribute a proven coronavirus vaccine as fast as possible. Again, we would love to see if we can do it prior to the end of the year,' the president said during the announcement in the White House Rose Garden.

'We think we are going to have some very good results coming out very quickly. In addition, it will continue accelerating the development of diagnostics and breakthrough therapies,' he added 

Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, has said an inoculation won't be available for at least 12 to 18 months at the earliest.