DoD: Virus options for PCS season

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department will decide how to prepare for the upcoming the militaries’ Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moving season with the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus based on whether the new coronavirus is still active, a military doctor said. Because the outbreak is from a new coronavirus, health officials still do not know whether it’s seasonal, says Air Force Brig. Gen. Paul Friedrichs, the Joint Staff surgeon, who spoke to reporters March 4 about the Pentagon’s current response to the outbreak. The primary season for service members and families’ PCS to move to domestic or international bases is from late spring through early fall. “If this tapers off (within eight weeks), then it’s not really going to be a huge issue in the summer.” If it comes back in the fall, then “we’ll have to deal with that in the fall,” Friedrichs says. “If it doesn’t taper off, then it absolutely becomes an issue.” It’s part of the learning curve “that we’re all going through,” he says. Friedrichs says DoD is looking at “a range of options, but it’ll really depend on what happens with the virus. And it’ll depend on where the location is.” If it is everywhere, like the flu, Friedrichs continues, “it’s not necessarily going to be as big of a challenge to come up with country-specific policies.” DoD will know more in a few weeks. DoD is providing guidance about the coronavirus and empowering local commanders to make decisions about their communities, such as restricting voluntary non-essential travel to areas with outbreaks. Additionally, all new military recruits will be screened for the virus before entering basic training. In the U.S., there have been 11 deaths from the virus as of March 4. (Source: Stars and Stripes 03/04/20) https://www.stripes.com/news/us/pentagon-considering-options-about-new-coronavirus-for-upcoming-pcs-season-1.621305
People with compromised immune systems are at greatest risk of COVID-19, but that largely doesn’t include service members, according to Friedrichs. Most service members are young, and by virtue of the fact that they’re considered fit to serve, by definition are not immuno-compromised. “What we’re trying very hard to do is not scare people by saying everybody is at risk, because that’s not true,” he says. "It’s just not true.”