WASHINGTON — Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas B. Modly cited the importance of a 355-ship navy in the fight against the novel coronavirus at a think tank roundtable today in Washington.

“Is Congress giving out $8 billion to combat the spread of Coronavirus?” a beleaguered Modly asked the audience. “Then shit yes. We are going to halt the spread of coronavirus. But obviously, that’s not something we can do at 275 ships.”

Modly’s Public Affairs officer, Capt. James Schofield, later put out a statement that said, “A 355-ship navy would have the capability to deliver test kits to limited coastal areas, get pretty close but not dangerously close to quarantine cruise ships that need supplies, and deter enemy aggression during this vulnerable time.”