Air Force update for COVID-19

By Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs / Published April 21, 2020

WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- 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:

April, 21, 2020
The Department of the Air Force rapidly executed three contract awards worth $133 million with 3M, Honeywell and O&M Halyard to increase domestic N95 production dedicating long-term mask capacity for national demand. These are the first Department of Defense funded awards utilizing Defense Production Act Title 3 authorities in response to COVID-19.

The seamless integration and life-saving performance of the Air Force Reserve Airmen at Javits Center and embedded in the local New York City hospitals continues through the Task Force-Civil Support and U.S. Northern Command taskings. These Airmen are serving side by side with civilian medical professionals to defeat the COVID-19 virus.

Forty two days into the COVID-19 pandemic response mission, the New York National Guard had 3,600 troops performing missions ranging from answering public inquiry hotlines to assisting New York City in retrieving the remains of those who have died at home.

Airmen from the 27 SOW, Cannon AFB, New Mexico, volunteered in helping families with a Pharmacy Point of Delivery System to respond to their local retiree community's medical needs during this time. Due to the remote, rural nature of Cannon and its surrounding communities, the retiree community depends on base support for their prescription needs. COVID-19 forced the medical group to get creative in order to continue providing support to this important demographic.

See photos of their efforts here: https://www.dvidshub.net/image/6172908/cannon-airmen-volunteer-helping-families-w-medication-drop-off-point

Nearly 30 Airmen and Soldiers from the Wisconsin National Guard were sent to the Milwaukee County House of Corrections in Franklin, Wisconsin to establish a mobile COVID-19 testing site to collect specimens from staff and inmates there.

Essential missions throughout the Air Force still continue even during this pandemic. Below are some links to stories on how these units have adapted to make sure they can continue to execute these missions despite COVID-19.

Don't Let COVID-19 Attack Your Mental Health - https://www.acc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2157812/dont-let-covid-19-attack-your-mental-health/

AFIMSC swift action enables Air, Space Force to meet COVID-19 challenges - https://www.afimsc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2157199/afimsc-swift-action-enables-air-space-force-to-meet-covid-19-challenges/

Squadron redesignations bolster enterprise contracting support - https://www.afimsc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2155694/squadron-redesignations-bolster-enterprise-contracting-support/

Sanitizing after sorties - https://www.usafe.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2157503/sanitizing-after-sorties/

Team Mildenhall cleaning team: a necessary preparation in COVID-19 fight - https://www.usafe.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2157507/team-mildenhall-cleaning-team-a-necessary-preparation-in-covid-19-fight/

Air Force Totals of COVID-19 Positive Cases as of 9 p.m., April 20, 2020.

	CASES	HOSPITALIZED	RECOVERED	DEATHS
Military	338 (+2)	8	98 (+2)	0
Civilian	179 (+7)	11 (-1)	42 (+5)	0
Dependents	200 (+1)	6	60 (+11)	0
Contractors	83 (+5)	6 (+2)	14 (+1)	1
Total	800	31	214	1

NEWSLETTER

Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list

Homeland Security

Air Force update for COVID-19