Sick Leave, Social Distancing and Travel Restrictions

While COVID-19 transmission risk remains low with no confirmed cases in Spokane County, we are in close coordination with state, regional and local health officials as well as other community partners to ensure our response efforts are coordinated. To safeguard our Total Force Airmen and their families, below are several proactive measures we will take to help prevent the spread of coronavirus and to best protect our base community. Please note this is a rapidly evolving and dynamic situation so expect updates and additions to follow:

• DoD Directed PCS and Travel Restrictions
  • Effective Friday, 13 March, the Secretary of Defense has directed all DoD uniformed personnel, civilian personnel and family members traveling to, from, or through Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Travel Health Notices Level 3 (COVID-19) designated locations to stop movement for the next 60 days. This includes all forms of official travel, including PCS, TDYs and government-funded leave. For DoD uniformed personnel, this policy also includes personal leave and other non-official travel.
  • DoD uniformed personnel are not authorized non-official travel to locations that have declared a public health emergency. In Washington State, this includes the Seattle area.
  • Effective 13 March, and 60 days after, concurrent official travel for family members of DoD uniformed personnel and civilian personnel is denied to CDC Travel Health Notices Level 2 designated locations.

• New Fairchild ID Card Scanning Policy
  • Effective Tuesday, 17 March, Fairchild Security Forces will institute a new ID Card scanning policy at the gates. As you enter the gate please hold onto your card and show both the front of the ID, then reverse the ID and show the barcode on the back to the gate personnel. The guard will then scan the ID and allow entrance to the installation. This process must be repeated for every passenger in the vehicle and is intended to help reduce the amount of personal contact.

• Fairchild Child and Youth Programs (CYP) Exclusion Policy Changes
  • Will continue educating children and youth on proper hygiene methods.
  • Will sanitize toys, materials and shelves at least twice daily.
  • The School Age Care school bus will be sanitized after each use.
  • Updated Exclusion Policy: To stay lock-step with our community, children and youth that don't attend CYP programs due to fever and respiratory issues should not return to the program (CDC, FCC, SAC, and Preteen/Teen Center) until they have been fever-free for 72 hours.

• Commander Authority to Grant Extended Sick Leave and Quarantine
  • Commanders will now be authorized to grant a 72-hours pass for sick Active Duty members who are displaying symptoms of coughing, fever and shortness of breath. Members displaying these symptoms still must call the 92d Medical Group Appointment line at (509) 247-2361 for medical advice and instructions. Supervisors still retain the authority to grant a 24-hour pass for sick members.
  • Commanders are authorized to direct uniformed service members to self-quarantine for 14 days if members meet eligible criteria. These criteria include:
    • Displaying symptoms including coughing, fever, and shortness of breath
    • Any international travel within the last 14 days, and travel within the United States to counties or states that have declared public health emergencies
    • Quarantine includes staying at home and not going out in public for 14 days.

• Personal and Environmental Hygiene
  • In addition to continuing proper hand-washing, covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and staying home when sick, keep your home and work environments hygienic by cleaning desks, conference tables, cell phones, work phones, doorknobs, keyboards, handrails and more frequently.

• Limit Unnecessary Personal Contact
  • When greeting others, use your words, not your hands! Avoid shaking hands, hugging, and standing within close proximity of others, limit large group gatherings, and consider if some meetings can be accomplished via phone or email

• Limit Large-Group Events
  • The health and safety of our Fairchild community will always be our top priority. While our community events promote resiliency and camaraderie, there will be some changes instituted on a case-by-case basis:
    • We will postpone special community events such as conferences, dances, tournaments, etc. until further notice. We will publicize the listing once finalized and this will be re-evaluated on a rolling 30-day basis.
    • Non mission-essential wing events such as promotion ceremonies, ALS graduations, etc. will still be conducted but virtual means will be used for audience participation (social media)
    • Mission-essential meetings and wing events will be restricted to fewer than 250 people with screening at the door.
    • We encourage conducting meetings via teleconference, email, etc. when possible. If face-to-face meetings must be conducted, maintain six feet of personal space.

Base leadership and subject matter experts remain actively engaged on this issue and will continue providing updates as they become available, especially given its dynamic nature. Please also consult the CDC 2019 Novel Coronavirus website at https://www.cdc.gov/COVID19 for the latest updates on this situation as well as for additional facts about the virus and its prevention.

By 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs