Air Force update for COVID-19

By Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs / Published May 26, 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:

May 26, 2020
Secretary of the Air Force Barbara M. Barrett visited Hollman Air Force Base and AFB, New Mexico, May 20-21, 2020, to see how Airmen at both locations have been diligently adapting, innovating, and maintaining mission operations amid COVID-19.

Read more about her visit to Holloman AFB here: https://www.aetc.af.mil/News/Article/2196327/secaf-visits-holloman-air-force-base-during-covid-19/

Air Force officials announced that, beginning June 2, the service will continue to hold basic military training at Keesler AFB until the end of COVID-19 surge operations. The decision to stand up BMT's initial operating capability at Keesler AFB under Detachment 5 of the 37th Training Wing at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas comes after a successful proof-of-concept trial run at the base, which began April 7.

Read this announcement here: https://www.aetc.af.mil/News/Article/2191816/feasibility-of-secondary-air-force-bmt-location-proven-covid-19-surge-operation/

Travis AFB Airmen prototyped personal protective equipment April 17 to help base medics safely treat and transport potential coronavirus patients. Members of the 60th Medical Group emergency department at David Grant USAF Medical Center joined forces with the 60th Maintenance and the 60th Operations Support Squadrons, all here, to develop an isolation pod and an intubation protection box.

Airmen with the 156th Medical Group, Puerto Rico Air National Guard, conducted a COVID-19 rapid test for Puerto Rico National Guard members at Muñiz Air National Guard Base, May 22, 2020. In support of Puerto Rico Health Department efforts to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, the PRNG offered voluntary rapid tests for all members.

See photos of their efforts here: https://www.dvidshub.net/image/6219964/covid-19-rapid-testing-muniz-air-national-guard-base

Airmen and Soldiers with the Pennsylvania National Guardsmen assigned to Task Force Iroquois, launched a Point Prevalence Sampling Strike Team at Hickory House Nursing Home, Honeybrook, Pa. The mission is designed to identify possible risks of exposure to the COVID-19 virus by testing the entire staff and residents or the virus. This is one of the first locations within the pilot program that will eventually reach out across the state.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Reserve Citizen Airmen like Lt. Col. Andrea A. Haylock, chief nurse with the 514th Aeromedical Staging Squadron, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, are actively engaged in critical response efforts on the front lines, right in their own neighborhoods. Haylock serves as a clinical assistant nurse manager at Richmond University Medical Center on Staten Island, New York, and was recently mobilized with the Air Force Reserve to Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx, N.Y., for three weeks in support of COVID-19.

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.

Barrett, Raymond speak with US astronaut ahead of historic launch - https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article/2195073/barrett-raymond-speak-with-us-astronaut-ahead-of-historic-launch

B-1 Lancers complete 24-hr sprint from Guam to train in Alaska, Japan - https://www.pacaf.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2195433/b-1s-complete-24-hr-sprint-from-guam-to-train-in-alaska-japan/

Academic, business and military innovation hub to solve command challenges; Virtual ribbon cutting May 28 - https://www.afgsc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2194115/academic-business-and-military-innovation-hub-to-solve-command-challenges-virtu/

Global strike, command and control, rapid global mobility missions showcased in aerial formation - https://www.acc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2196960/global-strike-command-and-control-rapid-global-mobility-missions-showcased-in-a/

Second CWSS narrows Air Force Weather's first-in communications gap - https://www.acc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2195688/2nd-cwss-narrows-air-force-weathers-first-in-communications-gap/

Archer University: Sharpening the Intel Hunters' Toolkit - https://www.acc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2195608/archer-university-sharpening-the-intel-hunters-toolkit/

New trauma training program prepares surgical team for deployment - https://www.aetc.af.mil/News/Article/2196304/new-trauma-training-program-prepares-surgical-team-for-deployment/

Adapting A Mission to Mars - A Bright New Future for AFRL STEM Academy - https://www.kirtland.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2195604/adapting-a-mission-to-mars-a-bright-new-future-for-afrl-stem-academy/

Air Force Totals of COVID-19 Positive Cases as of 9 p.m., May 25, 2020.

	CASES	HOSPITALIZED	RECOVERED	DEATHS
Military	475 (+13)	6	242 (+11)	0
Civilian	213 (+5)	6	120 (+4)	1 (+1)
Dependents	257 (+2)	6 (+1)	128 (+9)	1
Contractors	106 (+8)	6	37 (-1)**	2 (+1)
Total	1,051	24	527	4

*These numbers include all of the cases that were reported since our last update on May 21st.
**Corrects previous reports.

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Air Force update for COVID-19