Air Force update for COVID-19

  • Published
  • By Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

In an effort to minimize the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 and to prioritize the health and safety of Department of the Air Force personnel, the following modifications have been made:


March 30, 2020
Updates on Air Force actions from over the weekend:


Air Force Reserve Command provided additional guidance to reservists on the March 27th Executive Order authorizing mobilization of the Reserve Component in response to COVID-19 operations.

You can read more about the guidance that was provided here:

https://www.afrc.af.mil/News/Article/2129708/president-signs-executive-order-calling-up-air-force-reserve-medics-other-speci/


The Department of Defense posted a release letting service members and their families know that Military OneSource, and other family and spouse programs are still available.

You can read more as to how these programs are continuing to support service members and their families here:

https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2128239/onesource-family-and-spouse-programs-still-available/


Wings from the Civil Air Patrol have been assisting their local communities with emergency preparedness. 

Recently the CAP Wings in Missouri and Illinois assisted with Protective Equipment Transport, Warehousing.  Read about their efforts here:

https://www.cap.news/mo-members-assist-with-protective-equipment-transport-warehousing/

In addition, the CAP Wing in California had 39 Members serve at six sites, where they and served 49,874 meals to the kids of Los Angeles. Since they began their efforts a little over a week and a half ago, more than 1.5 Million meals have been served with the help of CAP.

Read more about their efforts here:


Air Force Totals of COVID-19 Positive Cases as of 1 p.m., March 29, 2020:  

  CASES HOSPITALIZED RECOVERED DEATHS
Military 164 (+59) 11 (+2) 7 (+3) 0
Civilian 57 (+21) 4 (-1) 3 (+2) 0
Dependents 41 (+10) 4 (+2) 2 0
Contractors 15 (+4) 3 (+1) 0 0
Total 277 22 12 0


 

 

 


Numbers in parenthesis are updated cases.
*These numbers include all of the cases that were reported since our last update on March 27th


March 27, 2020
Department of the Air Force Senior Leaders have released the following updates on COVID-19 operations.  You can view/download the following videos here.

Secretary of the Air Force Barbara M. Barrett -

Air Force Chief of Staff General David L. Goldfein -

Chief of Space Operations Gen John W. “Jay” Raymond -


On March 26, Air Education and Training Command announced that basic military training will adjust schedules and locations in order to sustain mission readiness. In order to ensure the health and safety of trainees and instructors and to preserve dorm capacity, new recruits will be brought in based on a four-week repeating cycle that includes stringent restricted movement guidelines, dedicated time for deep cleaning between rotations, resetting the instructor cadre and the testing of an alternate BMT location at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi.

You can read the full article on this new revised approach here: https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2127647/air-force-bmt-adjusts-schedules-locations-to-sustain-mission-readiness/


The Air Force has adjusted how we report the total number of COVID-19 Positive Cases in order to align with DoD reporting.

Air Force Totals of COVID-19 Positive Cases as of 9 p.m., March 26, 2020.  

  CASES HOSPITALIZED RECOVERED DEATHS
Military 105 (+13) 9 (+2) 4 (+1) 0
Civilian 36 (+6) 5 (+2) 1 0
Dependents 31 (+4) 2 (+1) 2 (+2) 0
Contractors 11 (+1) 2 (+1) 0 0
Total 183 18 7 0


 

 

 


Numbers in parenthesis are updated cases.

 

March 26, 2020
Today, Gen. Arnold W. Bunch, Jr., Air Force Materiel Command commander, provided an COVID-19 mission update.  You can read his statement here:

https://www.afmc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2126538/afmc-commander-provides-covid-19-mission-update/


All Department of the Air Force installations have been directed to move to and implement HPCON Charlie measures by the Secretary of Defense. You can read the transcript of the press conference where that was announced here: https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/2125842/department-of-defense-press-briefing-by-deputy-assistant-to-the-secretary-for-m/


Yesterday, at the request of the U.S. Department of State and at the direction of U.S. Southern Command, a U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules transported 78 U.S. citizens from Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, who were previously unable to return home, to Naval Air Station Norfolk, Virginia. The C-130J is part of a regular resupply mission to Soto Cano AB. The return flight also included mission-critical U.S. service members.

Here is the link to the release: https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2126650/jtf-bravo-facilitates-repatriation-of-us-citizens-from-honduras/

Link to additional imagery: https://www.dvidshub.net/news/365896/jtf-bravo-facilitates-repatriation-us-citizens-honduras


Yesterday, Air Force officials are announced the first restriction of movement or ROM trainee in the Air Force’s basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland tested positive for COVID-19.  The trainee reported to BMT March 18 and was immediately put into the ROM location, along with about 40 other new trainees.  Once the trainee showed symptoms, the trainee was isolated from other ROM trainees in order to protect the health and safety of all Airmen in the training pipeline.

You can read Air Education and Training Command’s statement here:  https://www.aetc.af.mil/News/Article/2125674/air-force-restriction-of-movement-trainee-tests-positive-for-covid-19/


The Air Force has adjusted how we report the total number of COVID-19 Positive Cases in order to align with DOD reporting.

Air Force Totals of COVID-19 Positive Cases as of 11 p.m., March 25, 2020.  

  CASES HOSPITALIZED RECOVERED DEATHS
Military 92 (+37) 7 (+1) 3 (+2) 0
Civilian 30 (+9) 3 (+1) 1 0
Dependents 27 (+11) 1 0 0
Contractors 10 1 0 0
Total 159 12 4 0


 

 

 


Numbers in parenthesis are updated cases.
 

March 25, 2020

The Air Force has adjusted how we report the total number of COVID-19 Positive Cases in order to align with DOD reporting.

Air Force Totals of COVID-19 Positive Cases as of 7 p.m., March 24, 2020.

  CASES HOSPITALIZED RECOVERED DEATHS
Military 55 (+12) 6 (+1) 1 0
Civilian 21 (+8) 2 (+1) 1 0
Dependents 16 (-2)* 1 (-1)** 0 0
Contractors 5 1 0 0
Total 97 10 2 0


 

 

 


Numbers in parenthesis are updated cases.
* Changes due to erroneous previous reporting of retiree dependent and other service dependent
** Changes due to Air Force no longer reporting retiree dependents.

 

March 24, 2020

In response to COVID-19, Dr. William Roper, assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology and logistics, has released the following statement to publicly recognize the challenges, and confirm our ongoing efforts to overcome new challenges. 

You can read his full statement here: https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2123182/a-statement-from-dr-roper-on-covid-19/


The Air Force has adjusted how we report the total number of COVID-19 Positive Cases in order to align with DOD reporting.

Air Force Totals of COVID-19 Positive Cases as of 7 p.m., March 23, 2020.  

  CASES HOSPITALIZED RECOVERED DEATHS
Military 43 (+9) 5 (+1) 1 (+1) 0
Civilian 13 1 (+1) 1 0
Dependents 18 (+6) 2 (+1) 0 0
Contractors 5 4 0 0
Total 79 9 2 0


 

 

 


Numbers in parenthesis are updated cases.

 

March 23, 2020
On March 22nd Air Mobility Command announced that it had temporarily suspended most Space-Available travel aboard AMC and contracted aircraft, except for certain Category I, IV, and VI travel, effective March 21, in order to limit COVID-19’s spread and its impact on the force. The temporary suspension remains in effect through May 11.

Read the full announcement here: https://www.robins.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2121665/air-mobility-command-temporarily-suspends-most-space-a-travel-due-to-covid-19/


On March 22, an 86th Airlift Wing C-130J Super Hercules out of Ramstein Air Base, Germany, transported an En-Route Patient Staging System (ERPSS) to Aviano Air Base, Italy, for delivery to the Italian Ministry of Defense. This mobile, or fixed system, provides 10 patient holding/staging beds and can support a maximum throughput of 40 patients in a 24-hour period. This was done in close coordination with the Department of State and at the request of the Italian government to assist with Italy’s COVID-19 response efforts.

AFPIMS:   https://www.usafe.af.mil/News/Press-Releases/Article/2121078/usafe-supports-italy-covid-19-response/

DVIDS:     https://www.dvidshub.net/news/365653/usafe-supports-italy-covid-19-response

For additional questions please reach out to USAFE-AFAFRICA Public Affairs at +49 (0) 6371-47-6558.


On Friday Evening, March 20, Maj. Mark Graff at Air Mobility Command released the following statement regarding the their participation in transporting members of the U.S. women’s football team from Honduras.

“This morning, in coordination with U.S. Southern Command and the U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa, a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III returned to the United States from Honduras’ Soto Cano Air Base with about half of the members of the U.S. women’s football team. Tonight, the remaining members of the women’s football team will arrive at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina on a U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules. Through its active, Reserve, and Air National Guard components, Air Mobility Command stands ready to do everything possible to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 and ensure we continue executing rapid global mobility operations in support of the DHHS-led whole-of-government effort to combat the Coronavirus outbreak.” 

You can find imagery here:

Video


The Air Force will be adjusting how we report the total number of COVID-19 Positive Cases in order to align with DOD reporting. 

Air Force totals as of 9 p.m., March 22.

  CASES HOSPITALIZED RECOVERED DEATHS
Military 34 (+16) 4 (-1) 0 0
Civilian 13 (+8) 0 (-1) 1 0
Dependents 12 1 (-1) 0 0
Contractors 5 (+1) 1 0 0
Total 64 6 1 0


 

 

 


Numbers in parenthesis are updated cases.

 

March 20, 2020
An active duty member who works for Defense Health Agency, Falls Church, Virginia, tested positive for COVID-19. Although his duty station was in Falls Church, the individual was last in the Pentagon on March 16 for less than an hour and has since received medical treatment and self-quarantined at home.

Military public health and local civilian public health officials have notified those in which the individual came in contact. All have been asked to adhere to Centers for Disease Control guidance.

We continue to ask our personnel to take actions to protect themselves and those around them by employing protective measures including practicing good hygiene, social distancing and taking appropriate actions if experiencing symptoms of an illness. These measures can dramatically decrease the risk of infection and slow COVID-19’s spread.


A defense contractor who works for the Air Force in the Pentagon has tested positive for COVID-19. The last time the infected member was in the Pentagon was March 2. The individual has received medical treatment and has been self-quarantined at home since March 7.

Air Force leadership has notified the contractor’s fellow workers and they are being asked to adhere to Centers for Disease Control guidance, maximize telework and social distancing, and practice good hygiene.

Recently, the contractor worked at the Total Force Integration Symposium at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, March 3-6. The individual did not have symptoms during the event. The Air Force sent an email to attendees informing them of the positive test.

The Virginia Department of Health has provided a “low risk rating” based on the individual being asymptomatic at the symposium.

We continue to ask our personnel to take actions to protect themselves and those around them by employing protective measures including practicing good hand washing, social distancing, and taking appropriate actions if feeling sick. These can dramatically decrease the risk of infection and slow COVID-19’s spread.


On March 19, Air Mobility Command transported the second shipment of 15 short tons of approximately 500,000 testing swabs, again aboard a C-17 Globemaster II from Aviano Air Base to Memphis, where it was turned over to Fed Ex for further dissemination across the United States. Additional missions are projected to meet Department of Health and Human Services requirements.

Photos can be found here:

?fbclid=IwAR20AGW3TbcAUIOLASosKtk4VHVuiccuzlt-ujr8G6UWf-WN5P82KNrp-EA

Videos are available here: https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/AMCPA?fbclid=IwAR1hkKnWUaG79QDIClp9nazeOKNc9kukU2_3gskbMr7O_f6A_iIZSfulOn

For additional questions please reach out to Air Mobility Command Public Affairs at 618-229-7804.


The Air Force will be adjusting how we report the total number of COVID-19 Positive Cases in order to align with DOD reporting. 

Air Force Totals as of 4:30 a.m., March 20, 2020.  

  CASES HOSPITALIZED RECOVERED DEATHS
Military 16 5 0 0
Civilian 5 1 0 0
Dependents 12 2 0 0
Contractors 4 1 1 0
Total 37 9 1 0


 

 

 

 

 

March 16, 2020

Since March 13th, the following bases are monitoring the following based on positive COVID-19 cases.

  • Travis Air Force Base, California is currently monitoring two positive cases of COVID-19 – one for an active-duty Airman, and one for a dependent of a service member.
     
  • Moody Air Force Base, Georgia has an active-duty member undergoing evaluation and treatment following a presumptive positive COVID-19 test.
     
  • Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, Alabama has a civilian employee who undergoing evaluation and treatment following a confirmed result for COVID-19.

In an effort to minimize the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 and to prioritize the health and safety of Department of the Air Force personnel, the following modifications have been made:

  • Department of Air Force personnel who work on the Pentagon Reservation have been authorized to telework when the mission allows in order to disperse the workforce during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. The Department of the Air Force will continue to do our part to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 as we protect the health of our personnel while ensuring complete readiness to defend our nation.
     
  • Headquarters Air Mobility Command to adjust operations to address COVID-19 concerns - https://www.amc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2113368/headquarters-amc-adjusts-operations-to-address-covid-19-concerns/
     
  • Based on the March 13th Department of Defense Guidance Memo, Air University has asked all students attending Squadron Officer School and Senior Non-Commissions Officer Academy to return to their home stations.

For additional Air Force related information concerning the new coronavirus please reference the following website: https://www.af.mil/News/Coronavirus-Disease-2019/


March 15, 2020
On March 14, 2020, the White House announced that Proclamation 9993 (Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Certain Additional Persons Who Pose a Risk of Transmitting 2019 Novel Coronavirus) will now include the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. As of March 13, 2020, the World Health Organization reported that the United Kingdom had 594 cases of COVID-19, five times more cases than there were 7 days prior.

The presidential proclamations regarding novel coronavirus restrict certain travel and entry to and from China, Iran, South Korea, United Kingdom, Ireland, and the European Schengen area.

According to the White House, an effective date, to begin implementation of certain travel restrictions, limitations, and exceptions, for the United Kingdom and Ireland is March 16, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The CDC has raised England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland (Ireland) to Level 3. More info here: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/warning/coronavirus-united-kingdom-ireland.

The travel restrictions that apply to CDC Travel Health Notices Level 3 (COVID-19) designated locations from the SecDef memorandum dated 11 March 2020, Travel Restrictions for DOD Components in Response to Coronavirus Disease 2019 now apply to England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland (Ireland). More personnel travel guidance along with FAQ will be released as they become available. For further questions please contact your chain of command or local Military Personnel Flight. In addition, the Total Force Service Center can be reached at 800-525-0102. A TFSC technician is available 24/7 to take your call.

For additional Air Force related information concerning the new coronavirus please reference the following website: https://www.af.mil/News/Coronavirus-Disease-2019/

March 13, 2020
In an effort to minimize the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 and to prioritize the health and safety of Department of the Air Force personnel, the following modifications have been made:

• The Air Force finalized their guidance for personnel movements based off of Secretary Esper’s guidance dated March 11. You can find more information here: https://www.afpc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2111282/dod-directs-stop-movement-in-response-to-covid-19/
• Department of the Air Force is suspending all outreach activities and support to community events through May 15. This includes, but is not limited to, on-base and civilian sponsored air shows, band performances and community engagements and meetings. This decision does not preclude our leaders from meeting or coordinating with local and community officials.
• The United States Air Force Academy made the decision to begin orderly dismissal of a large segment of their Cadet population. The goal of this action is to maximize  the chances of graduating their senior class on time.
• The United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine Epidemiology Laboratory has begun receiving potential COVID-19 samples from military treatment facilities (MTFs) around the world. MTFs collect samples per CDC guidelines and send them to the Epi Reference Lab or local public health lab to conduct the CDC-approved test. Any presumptive positive test is then confirmed by the CDC per guidelines. The USAFSAM Epi Lab enters all information from the tested samples into the appropriate medical system for medical decision making, and the also sends daily updates to DHA for oversight.

For additional Air Force related information concerning coronavirus please reference the following website: https://www.af.mil/News/Coronavirus-Disease-2019/

March 12, 2020
An active-duty Airman assigned to Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, is currently undergoing evaluation and treatment following a presumptive positive novel coronavirus test. The Airman recently traveled to Seattle. Additionally, a contractor at Moody Air Force Base tested positive for the virus.

In an effort to minimize the spread of COVID-19  and to prioritize the health and safety of Department of the Air Force personnel, the following modifications have been made:
• The March Air Reserve Base air show scheduled for March 28-29 has been cancelled.
Air University’s Officer Training School has suspended guest presence at the awards ceremony and graduation parade; individual commissioning ceremonies will continue
• No spectators will be allowed at United States Air Force Academy home games; the academy is closed to visitors.

Download Air Force COVID-19 Information Handout

March 10, 2020
• At the United States Air Force Academy, official travel outside of the United States has been restricted for cadets, cadet candidates and permanent party. Personal/leisure travel to countries with a CDC Level 2 or higher rating is also prohibited. As of now, restrictions will remain in place through the end of March.
Air Force Basic Military Training has suspended family members from attending graduation until further notice.
• Since South by Southwest events in Austin, Texas, was cancelled, the Air Force’s Spark Collider and Pitch Bowl will now take place virtually, March 12.
• The Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado Child Development Center has been closed for cleaning since a parent (family member) tested positive by the state for coronavirus.
• All Department of the Air Force personnel have been directed to follow Center for Disease Control levels for travel guidance.

Additionally, the following bases are currently housing passengers from the Grand Princess cruise ship: Travis Air Force Base, California Joint Base San Antonio, Texas and Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia.