The 115th Fighter Wing is at Health Protection Condition (HPCON) Charlie and is at mission essential reporting to combat the spread of COVID-19. Truax Field is not closed.

Beginning Tuesday, May 26, 115th Fighter Wing reopened more of its facilities consistent with state and local guidelines. Current installation mitigation measures remain in effect, including base entry control point no touch protocols, maximization of telework, protective face masks at all times, even within work areas while alone, except for the duration of eating or drinking, work center disinfection plans and limiting in-person meetings, socials, and mass gatherings.

HPCON Charlie restricts movement of personnel on the installation as official business, and imposes strict hygiene (no handshaking, wiping of common use items), self-isolation if exposed, and avoidance of risk areas. These measures keep the installation consistent with the actions of the Department of Defense and U.S. Air Force.

The HPCON Charlie declaration will have the following impact to personnel:

• Continue essential missions with required manning -- active duty, Guard, Reserve, government civilians and government contractors. 
• Installation operations will be commensurate with federal, state and local guidelines; unit commanders will determine the installation’s essential missions and required manning.  Work with your supervisor and leadership on your individual status.
• Maximize telework - only conduct in-person mission essential meetings that require the fewest personnel
• Access procedures to the installation remain unchanged
• Military personnel and we encourage civilian employees to limit off base travel to movement to/from work, grocery, and hospital/medical needs
• Adhere to strict hygiene (no hand-shaking, frequent hand-washing, clean common-use items)
• Continue social distancing (limit in-person meetings, socials and mass gatherings)

If you develop flu-like symptoms with fever and cough or shortness of breath and may have had contact with a person who has COVID-19 or had recent travel to areas considered high-risk, contact your health care provider before seeking medical care to prevent possible transmission in the health care setting. For COVID-19 health-related questions, please contact the 115th Medical Group Public Health Hotline at (608) 245-4656. 

For the latest information on COVID-19, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus, and the Department of Defense Coronavirus website at www.defense.gov/explore/spotlight/coronavirus.  

Coronavirus Disease 2019 
What the U.S. Government is Doing
DOD Response to Corona
Air Force Corona Information
Wisconsin COVID-19 Updates
World Health Organization
Centers of Disease Control and Prevention
Avoiding Scams
Families First Coronavirus Response Act
Covid and COVID-19 FAQ

In an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the Medical Group will follow the Department of Defense interim guidance on the use of face coverings for all persons entering DoD facilities. Effective immediately, ALL patients and visitors entering the medical facility will be expected to wear a face mask or covering at all times. Patients who believe they have been exposed or are feeling sick with a fever, cough,  shortness of breath, sore throat, or body aches should speak with an appointment line operator before travelling to the clinic so that we can manage your care appropriately.

*COVID-19 testing is NOT available on base

COVID-19 Return to Duty Criteria (Symptomatic). *Update 23 July 2020.
Offered by Brad Meyers, Col, MC, SFS, MDG/CC, 115^th FW

How do we advise members recovering from COVID-19 infection (or symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 infection) regards return to work?

Non-Test-based criteria:  No testing utilized to document clearing of infection.
This is the most common scenario we will use.
Return to work after the following three conditions are met:

• No fever (temperature <100.4) for past 24 hours, without use of fever reducing medicines,
• AND-- Improvement of respiratory symptoms (e.g., improved cough, shortness of breath),
• AND-- At least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.

Test based criteria: Test based no longer recommended by CDC.  This simplifies things a bit.

Return to work guidance for those exposed to a person with confirmed positive COVID-19 Test. *Update 23 July 2020.
Offered by Brad Meyers, Col, MC, SFS, MDG/CC, 115^th FW

One of our members has received notification (usually through contact tracing) that they have been in contact with a person (symptomatic or not) who has tested positive for COVID-19. What advice do we offer that member about returning to work? How to we ensure the safety of those in the shop where they work?  When and under what circumstances can the asymptomatic member with exposure to a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 return to work? This is (unfortunately) an increasingly frequent scenario. This is the “latest” from CDC.

The member exposed to someone who has tested positive for Covid-19 remains at home on self-quarantine for 14 days prior to returning to work.  The count starts with the last day of exposure to the person who tested positive. The member self-monitors for fever and for symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, loss of sense of taste and smell, muscle aches, GI upset, sore throat, muscle aches, etc.) Rationale: This is the standard quarantine protocol for COVID-19 exposure. Of course, the member must remain symptom-free during the self-quarantine.

Testing does not change the approach above. This is the change.  A negative result does not allow a return to work sooner than the 14 days after exposure as described above.

You may complete the online Coronavirus Self-Checker to help you make decisions about returning to base via https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html.