BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- At approximately 3:30 p.m., March 12, 2020, Buckley Air Force Base leadership was notified by the Tri-County Health Department, Colorado, that a child of a service member on Buckley tested negative for COVID-19. Additionally, the service member and his other child showed symptoms of COVID-19 and were tested and are pending results.
The service member’s spouse tested positive by the Tri-County Health Department on March 9 for COVID-19 after returning from a family vacation in India. The results were sent to the Center for Disease Control and we are currently awaiting their confirmation of COVID-19 in the spouse.
All members of the family are being quarantined and closely monitored by the Tri-County Health Department. Buckley has taken all necessary precautions to avoid the spread of COVID-19 while awaiting the results of this test.
The service member’s two children attended A-Basin Child Development Center on Buckley AFB. On March 10, A-Basin closed in abundance of caution and is being disinfected for the safety of children and workers. There was no cross-contamination between the A-Basin Child Development Center and Crested Butte Child Development Center, the other daycare on base. Workers that travel between the daycares were not in the vicinity of the children who were potentially exposed to COVID-19.
A-Basin is expected to open on next week after the cleaning has been completed. Parents of children who attend A-Basin will be credited for the days they were closed.
Buckley AFB is complying with all DoD travel restrictions, limiting uniformed and civilian personnel and family member travel to, from or through Center for Disease Control and Prevention Travel Health Notices Level 3 designated locations for the next 60 days. This includes personal leave and all forms of official travel, including Permanent Change of Station, Temporary Duty and government-funded leave. Additionally, concurrent official travel for family members of DoD uniformed and civilian personnel is denied to CDC Travel Health Notices Level 2 (COVID-19) designated locations.
Buckley AFB remains in Health Protection Condition (HPCON) Alpha. All front-range bases are currently in HPCON Alpha in response to the spread of COVID-19 in the state of Colorado. The HPCON Alpha declaration defines base measures for a limited health threat to base personnel that has the potential to rapidly move into an area. Measures include educating personnel on the threats and precautionary measures.
The Buckley AFB clinic is not able to conduct testing for COVID-19. All testing is performed through the Colorado Health Department. Team Buckley members who are feeling ill during duty hours are encouraged to contact the Buckley AFB clinic at 720-847-9355 for specific guidance on how to proceed. If members are feeling ill after duty hours, they can contact the nurse advice line at 800-874-2273 for further direction. Tricare beneficiaries can also visit https://www.tricare.mil/coronavirus for more information.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Colorado Department of Public Health and Team Buckley are continuing to track the ongoing COVID-19 situation.
For the latest information on COVID-19, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Department of Defense Coronavirus websites at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus and https://www.defense.gov/Explore/Spotlight/Coronavirus/.
*Please remember these helpful definitions that are being used by Public Health officials and the media:
- Isolation: term used for actions taken with a patient with symptoms/sick. A sick person (either COVID-19 positive or being tested for COVID-19) is placed in Isolation, not Quarantine.
- Quarantine: term used for actions taken with an ASYMPTOMATIC (does not have symptoms) BUT had contact with a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 positive patient (also termed exposed). When a person in Quarantine become ill, they are moved to Isolation. Be aware that Quarantine usually carries legal obligations and enforced restriction of movement; it is typically applied through a legal Quarantine order enforced by an arrest authority.
- Social Distancing: term used for all other actions not covered under Isolation or Quarantine. Includes actions such as: staying home (including teleworking), not attending large gatherings, etc. Also referred to as “self- quarantine”