COVID-19 prompts base to return to HPCON Bravo

  • Published
  • By Michael Dukes
  • 315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Leadership at Joint Base Charleston leadership, this week, raised its Health Protection Condition to Bravo which requires increased health protection measures for all personnel to take additional measures against the current increased COVID-19 threat.

Under the current HPCON Bravo standing, all personnel must wear a mask indoors. Unvaccinated personnel must also wear their mask outdoors.  This applies to all DoD service members, federal employees, on site contractors and visitors.

Exceptions to the mask policy include:

  • When necessary to accommodate a religious belief or underlying health condition
  • When outdoors and practicing social distancing
  • When actively participating in physical fitness activities with social distancing
  • When alone in a vehicle or with members of the same household
  • If it interferes with the proper use of PPE needed to accomplish military duties
  • When eating and drinking
  • When alone in the office

At this time current trusted traveler policy remains unchanged.  There are no current changes in base services or work schedules.  This remains at commanders’ discretion.

Base health officials have also updated its policy on quarantine and isolation procedures as follows:

  • If a member is exposed to a COVID-positive person, a 10-day quarantine is advised. COVID tests are not required to return to work after quarantine. However, if a member tests negative for COVID between day and five and seven and the individual has no symptoms, then they can return to work.
  • If a member tests positive then isolation in required for 10 days after first symptoms arrive. If they are fever free for 72 hours without the aid of medication after the isolation they can return to work.
  • A person who is positive is infectious for seven days – two days prior to the arrival of the first symptom and five days afterward. A quarantine order will only be issued to other members if they were around a positive person during their infectious period.

If an Air Reserve Technician or Active Guard/Reserve or civilian employee on base tests positive or has close contact with a positive person, they must contact 628th Public Health at 843-963-6962 (after hours call 843-693-8134).  Traditional Reservists, who are not in status, should contact the 315th Aerospace Medicine Squadron at 843-963-6786 or -6625.

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