Air Force update for COVID-19
By Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs / Published April 27, 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 27, 2020
In a show of national solidarity, the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, and the Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, will conduct a series of multi-city flyovers over the next two weeks. America Strong is a collaborative salute from the Navy and Air Force to recognize healthcare workers, first responders, and other essential personnel while standing in solidarity with all Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. The first flyover will occur on April 28th over New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia.
Read about the America Strong flyovers here: https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2165190/america-strong-blue-angels-thunderbirds-to-conduct-multi-city-flyovers-champion/
Learn more about the April 28th flyover here: http://afthunderbirds.com/site/2020/04/25/thunderbirds-blue-angels-to-salute-new-york-new-jersey-and-pennsylvania-covid-19-responders/
Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri pilots are scheduled to fly over medical facilities in Kansas City, Missouri, April 28th to honor and express Whiteman AFB's gratitude for all medical and healthcare professionals, essential employees and volunteers in the fight against COVID-19.
Read more about what to expect at the B-52 flyover in Kansas City, Missouri here: https://www.whiteman.af.mil/News/Article/2164532/whiteman-afb-b-2-stealth-bomber-a-10-and-t-38-jets-to-fly-over-kansas-city-in-s/
Gen. Mike Holmes, the commander of Air Combat Command, visited the service members of Task Force-Southeast at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. Holmes toured several facilities to learn how the task force operates and about its mission to aid in the country's fight to combat COVID-19.
Read more about his visit here: https://www.acc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2165072/commander-of-air-combat-command-visits-task-force-southeast/
U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa Airmen around the theater have played a variety of roles in supporting the Department of Defense COVD-19 response. Several Airmen, however, have had the unique opportunity to directly assist the Italian air force, the French air force and the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force in their response efforts.
Read more about this exchange here: https://www.usafe.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2165482/military-personnel-exchange-program-officers-strengthen-partner-countries-milit/
As of Sunday, April 26, 55 days after the first COVID-19 case was diagnosed in New York, the New York National Guard had over 3,600 troops on duty as part of New York's response.
Read more about their efforts here: https://www.dvidshub.net/news/368497/new-york-national-guard-sustaining-fight-against-covid-19-after-55-days-duty
Nine members of the 167th Airlift Wing have been tasked with the production of a newly designed N95 mask alternative, April 24, 2020, Martinsburg, West Virginia. The Shepherd Mask gets its name from Shepherd University where it was designed.
The Connecticut National Guard received a shipment of personal protective equipment to include 455,500 N95 medical masks, 325,000 surgical masks, 120,000 protective coveralls, and 4,500 ICU coveralls. The gear was shipped to the Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security commodities warehouse, where it is sorted and distributed to first responders and front line health care professionals through a joint operation with the Connecticut National Guard.
The Alabama National Guard's Task Force 31 combats COVID-19 in McCalla as a part of a state wide operation to reduce potential fatal exposures to the coronavirus disease.
Airmen with Task Force Oahu's COVID-19 response team donate blood to be used by service member's on the frontline, home front and civilian counterparts. The Armed Services Blood Program held a blood drive on April 24, 2020
See photos of their efforts here: https://www.dvidshub.net/image/6188320/task-force-oahu-hosts-blood-drive
https://www.dvidshub.net/image/6188522/task-force-oahu-hosts-blood-drive
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.
Hickam AFB, Hawaii total force integration readiness - https://www.pacaf.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2164469/team-hickam-total-force-integration-readiness/
USAF delivers medical supplies to Ghana - https://www.usafe.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2165225/usaf-delivers-medical-supplies-to-ghana/
9,000th F-35 maintainer headed to 419 FW: http://www.419fw.afrc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2161157/9000th-f-35-maintainer-headed-to-419-fw/
Dyess AFB, Texas is scheduled to host a virtual collider event April 28 - https://www.dyess.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2163752/dyess-afb-to-host-virtual-collider-event/
A 104th Fighter Wing Pilot takes off amid COVID-19 and with blue skies up ahead - https://www.dvidshub.net/image/6188510/104th-fighter-wing-pilot-takes-off-amid-covid-19-and-with-blue-skies-up-ahead
Refueling F-15C Eagles - https://www.usafe.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2165180/refueling-eagles/
86th SFS COVID-19 Operations -
Intel squadron continues to make mission happen through COVID-19 - https://www.acc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2165653/intel-squadron-continues-to-make-mission-happen-through-covid-19/
Columbus AFB hosts Wings Over Columbus virtual air show on social media - https://www.aetc.af.mil/News/Article/2165846/columbus-afb-hosts-wings-over-columbus-virtual-air-show-on-social-media/
Air Force Recruiting, 4th Fighter Wing fill void at NASCAR iRacing with innovation - https://www.aetc.af.mil/News/Article/2165135/air-force-recruiting-4th-fighter-wing-fill-void-at-nascar-iracing-with-innovati/
Air Force Totals of COVID-19 Positive Cases as of 9 p.m., April 26, 2020.
| CASES | HOSPITALIZED | RECOVERED | DEATHS | |
| Military | 347 (+4) | 7 | 115 (+6) | 0 |
| Civilian | 186 (+6) | 10 (+1) | 59 | 0 |
| Dependents | 213 (+6) | 6 | 68 (+5) | 0 |
| Contractors** | 75 (-7) | 6 | 17 (-1) | 1 |
| Total | 821 | 29 | 259 | 1 |
*These numbers include all of the cases that were reported since out last update, April 24th.
**Corrects previous report.
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