DECEMBER 29,2021 – An increase in new COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region — the area including and surrounding Washington, D.C., where most of the Pentagon workforce lives — has spurred Defense Department leadership to implement some additional safety measures to prevent its own workforce from becoming ill or contributing to new cases.
In a memorandum dated December 27, Michael Donley, director for administration and management at the Pentagon, discussed Defense Department concerns and detailed additional safety measures.
“We have seen an increase in coronavirus disease 2019 and positive test results in the National Capital Region in recent weeks,” Donley wrote. “Additional mitigation measures will be implemented on the Pentagon Reservation to protect the workforce and our support to the no-fail mission of the Department of Defense.”
According to the memorandum, beginning January 3, food concessions at the Pentagon will no longer have seating available for diners. Those who purchase food at those locations will need to eat elsewhere.
Because the Pentagon is in health protection condition “Bravo +,” organizations in the building are maintaining occupancy rates at less than 40%. That will continue, and Donley asked supervisors and managers to “strongly encourage” the personnel they lead to telework at least through the end of January 2022. Virtual meetings or seating with physical distancing should be maximized.
Additionally, through the end of January, unofficial visitors will not be allowed in the building, and parties of official visitors must be limited to the minimum required for mission-critical meetings.
Beginning January 5, military personnel, DOD civilians and on-site contractors at the Pentagon will again have access to COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters at both the DiLorenzo Pentagon Health Clinic and at the Pentagon Library Conference Center. Personnel who wish to get the vaccine will need to make an appointment.
Vaccination Appointment URL:
https://apps.sp.pentagon.mil/sites/Vaccination/Pages/Home.aspx
The Pentagon Reservation remains at Health Protection Condition (HPCON) Bravo Plus (Bravo +). However, as we have seen an increase in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and positive test results in the National Capitol Region in recent weeks, the Director of Administration and Management (DA&M) is implementing a few additional mitigation measures on the Pentagon Reservation to protect the workforce, their families, our communities, and our support to the no-fail mission of the Department of Defense. These include:
- Supervisors and managers should strongly encourage their workforce to maximize telework, where the mission permits, through the end of January 2022;
- Official visitors will be limited to the minimum required for mission critical meetings;
- The Pentagon Reservation will be closed to unofficial visitors through the end of January 2022;
- Organizations are expected to maintain occupancy rates at less than 40% of normal occupancy, subject to exceptions approved by DA&M.
Additionally,
- All DoD personnel and eligible family members are strongly encouraged to receive the booster dose to protect themselves against COVID-19;
- DoD personnel are encouraged to consider using an FDA-approved COVID-19 home test kit upon return from the Federal holiday period prior to returning to the workplace;
- Employees should monitor themselves for symptoms, and if sick, contact their supervisor and not come to the workplace.
For more information, please see the guidance memo from the Director of Administration & Management here.
Protecting our workforce while performing our national security mission remains the Secretary of Defense’s number one priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. Supervisors will continue to provide maximum telework opportunities and flexible scheduling to optimize the workforce while defending our nation, taking care of our people, and ensuring success through teamwork.
For more information on the Pentagon Reservation response to COVID-19, visit https://www.whs.mil/Coronavirus/
We encourage all DOD personnel to visit https://www.defense.gov/Explore/Spotlight/Coronavirus for information on staying healthy during the pandemic.
DOD NEWS