Protocols changing at McConnell Air Force Base in response to COVID-19
McConnell Air Force Base was already at its second-strictest emergency health procedure when an airman was diagnosed with the new coronavirus earlier this week.
Procedures on the base have been changing as the 22nd Air Refueling Wing deals with the new coronavirus. Spokesperson Lt. Kate Danner said the base policy evolves with changes at the state or county level or as orders come down from the Department of Defense and Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Team McConnell continues to generate aircraft to support mission-essential aerial refueling operations,” Danner said in an email. “We are implementing Secretary of Defense directed Force Health Protection Guidance regarding screening passengers for travel on military aircraft. The screening procedure includes a questionnaire, temperature check and visual check for COVID-19 signs and symptoms at the point of embarkation. If the primary screening raises concern, a secondary screening will be performed by a health professional.”
Coronavirus testing is done on base and people that can have been working from home, she said.
The base commander upgraded to health protection condition (HPCON) Charlie last week on the same day Sedgwick County announced a stay-home order.
“The safety of our Airmen, families, employees, and the community is our top priority,” Base commander Col. Richard Tanner said in a news release. ”We will continue to work with our interagency partners to ensure we do everything we can to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 and ensure our airmen, families and employees here have the most up-to-date information on appropriate measures to prevent the potential spread of the virus.
“Similarly, ensuring mission success and continuing to fuel today’s fight remain priorities as well.”
Two days after McConnell upgraded to HPCON Charlie, Defense Secretary Mark Esper required that all U.S. Air Force bases upgrade to that level, which is the fourth of five levels set by the Department of Defense.
It’s rare for any base to reach HPCON Charlie, Danner said. McConnell hasn’t instituted any HPCON protocols since the 22nd Air Refueling Wing was assigned to the base in 1948, she said.
The levels build on each other, so actions such as social distancing, avoiding unnecessary travel and self-quarantine would have been in effect prior to McConnell upgrading its response.
HPCON Charlie adds a few things: restricted ability to travel and cancellations of gatherings, preparing for limited access to supplies and services, “including severely restricted access to military” bases, implementing work-at-home procedures and authorizing flights for people outside of the U.S.
The last level, HPCON Delta, involves the expectation of staying at home for long periods of time and following local, state and federal guidelines.
“The Air Force has extensively planned and implemented measures to ensure that our force and individual units remain ready to carry out their respective missions,” Danner said. “Those measures include isolating critical personnel, dividing units into separate cohorts and aggressively following CDC recommendations.
“We have a comparatively young and fit force and have complete confidence in our ability to carry out all of our key national responsibilities.”
This story was originally published April 2, 2020 at 4:47 PM.