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By: FEDweek StaffDoD is cautioning both military and civilian personnel to follow guidance from that department, the CDC, and other authorities “when deciding whether to host or attend a holiday gathering.”
The department-wide memo comes amid the surge of Covid-19 infections, hospitalizations and related deaths – and that caused the Pentagon to recently cut back on the number of people allowed to work there and other headquarters buildings.
Personnel should not travel or attend gatherings if recently diagnosed with COVID-19 and not yet met the criteria for when it is safe to be around others; have symptoms of COVID-19; are awaiting test results; may have been exposed to someone who has contracted COVID-19 within the last 14 days; or are at risk of severe illness from COVID-19,” it.
During travel and at any gatherings, they should wear a face covering, avoid close contact, wash their hands, avoid contact with sick individuals, avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth, and “limit the duration and the number of people at gatherings as much as possible.”
It adds: “Outdoor activities are safer than indoor activities. If you attend an indoor event, avoid crowded, poorly ventilated, and fully enclosed indoor spaces. Increase ventilation by opening windows and doors to the extent that it is safe and feasible based on the weather.”
Latest figures from DoD show total cases this year of 79,020 among military personnel and nearly 19,770 among civilian employees, with 832 and 675 currently hospitalized and 12 and 78 deaths. Among contractor personnel, the numbers were 7,225, 258 and 31, while among dependents they were about 11,721, 165 and 8.
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