The move will make it easier for states, already facing increasing costs as a result of the pandemic, to call in the guard if needed to help deal with the problems caused by COVID-19.
At the direction of Col. Andrew Purath, the commander of the 11th Wing and Joint Base Andrews, the base shifted from HPCON Bravo, according to the release. Other military bases throughout the National Capital Region have similarly shifted to HPCON Charlie.
This mobile, or fixed system, provides 10 patient holding/staging beds and can support a maximum throughput of 40 patients in a 24-hour period, according to the release.
“To the best of our knowledge, this is the first death of someone working for DoD who had tested positive for COVID-19,” officials tell Military Times.
Where chapels were once filled with the faithful, social distancing precautions have moved many services online. The move to virtual worship came after the Army closed all chapels in the United States and Europe last week.
An active sailor assigned to one of the several dozen commands at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, is currently undergoing evaluation and treatment following a positive novel coronavirus test.