MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- The 42nd Air Base Wing has raised the Health Protection Condition to Alpha from zero for Maxwell Air Force Base and Gunter Annex in response to the spread of COVID-19 beginning March 13, 2020.
In the case of an unusual health risk, the DoD uses health protection measures known as HPCONs, to determine what actions are needed to best protect the base populace and surrounding community.
At this time, there have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 here in Alabama. The protection measure guidance for HPCON Alpha includes:
- Health Alert
- Communicate risk and symptoms
- Review plans
- Verify preparation: training, stocks, posture, prepare to diagnose, isolate
- Report new cases
“The decision to move to HPCON-A status was determined based on the growing number of U.S. cases and cases in the states surrounding Alabama,” said Lt. Col. Melissa Runge, 42nd Health Care Operations Squadron commander. “HPCON-A triggers us to communicate health awareness across the 42nd ABW, to identify our population that may be at risk, to educate our population on the current state of the illness and, most importantly, to develop a prioritized plan of action should a Public Health Emergency be declared.”
For more information regarding COVID-19, and base resources, visit https://www.maxwell.af.mil/RESOURCES/COVID-19/
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
https://health.mil/News/In-the-Spotlight/Coronavirus