April 22, 2020 | BY Jim Garamone , DOD News
The Defense Department is moving to a tiered COVID-19
testing program to protect service members and ensure they can continue to do
the nation's business, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.
Air Force Gen. John E. Hyten and Deputy Defense Secretary
David L. Norquist described the four-tiered system and all other aspects of
DOD's support to civilian agencies against coronavirus during a Pentagon news
conference today.
The new system means the department is moving from a
diagnostic focus to a diagnostic-plus-screening focus, the general said, noting
that DOD now has the means to expand testing to a wider military population.
The tiered focus gives priority to the highest-risk forces and will ensure
strategic mission assurance, he added.
Tier 1 is testing for those involved in critical national
capabilities such as strategic deterrence or nuclear deterrence, Hyten said.
Tier 2 will test fielded forces around the world. Tier 3 encompasses forces
being forward deployed or those redeploying, and Tier 4 is for all other
forces.
Testing will become more frequent as supplies become more
available. The military has already started testing those service members in
Tier 1, the general said, but he pointed out that testing is not a solution.
Service members still must engage in social distancing, wearing masks, washing
hands and all other recommendations of medical officials.
The testing is, however, a powerful tool. When used in
conjunction with all other preventive measures, it can "improve our
overall force availability," Hyten said.
Norquist and Hyten both said the department is adjusting to
the new rhythm COVID-19 has enforced on the world. Military and civilian
employees continue their missions under the new strictures, including a huge
increase in telework. "We now have an estimated 970,000 active duty and
civilian personnel teleworking with great success," Norquist said.
For example, the deputy secretary said, the Defense Finance
and Accounting Service has 95 percent of its workforce teleworking. "Each
month DFAS makes over 5.8 million payments to civilians, active duty, reserve,
National Guard and DOD retirees, but because they previously prepared for it
and practice extensive telework, they're sustaining regular operations at full
capacity," he added.
But some jobs in the military can't be phoned in, and that
includes training new recruits, working aboard ships and in cockpits and otherwise
working in constrained spaces. The department is working to address those
situations, Norquist said.
The department will screen individuals with questionnaires
and thermometers to identify people at risk. They will be put in quarantine for
14 to 21 days, depending on the risk tolerance, to identify those who are
infected, but are not yet showing it, he said.
"Prior to leaving quarantine, we will conduct a swab
test and a temperature check to identify individuals who are infected, but
still do not show it. … As the unit then moves to its mission, [we] will keep
the group together, but [with] limited outside interaction to prevent introduction
of infection from outside."
Again, masks, social distancing, cleaning workspaces and
more will continue as the process continues, the deputy secretary emphasized.
"These interim measures enable us to reduce the risk," he said.
"So we continue to operate until we develop therapeutics and vaccines. And
as we learn more about the virus, we will continue to evolve our
approach."
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