ALCOAST 084/20 - MAR 2020 COVID-19 TRAVEL AND LEAVE POLICY

united states coast guard

R 140021 MAR 20
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-1//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS//N06200//
ALCOAST 084/20
COMDTNOTE 6200
SUBJ:  COVID-19 TRAVEL AND LEAVE POLICY
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 061306 MAR 20/ALCOAST 071/20 
B. DHS Deputy Under Secretary for Management Memorandum 2 March 2020
C. Novel Coronavirus Planning Order v.3 March 2020
D. DOD Foreign Clearance Guide
1. This ALCOAST provides Coast Guard (CG) members with updated travel and leave policy
guidance as it relates to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and supersedes REF (A)
regarding leave and travel only.
2. Foreign Travel. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is issuing Travel Health Notices
(THNs) for locations affected by COVID-19. A list of THNs can be found here:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/
a. Official Foreign Travel. IAW REF (B), CG official travel to locations for which
the CDC has issued a Level 3 or Level 2 THN is restricted to only mission essential,
time-sensitive work that cannot be handled via distance or remote means. For any foreign
travel, Commanding Officers/Commanders should assess the risk to mission using the Risk
Assessment Tool located in Enclosure (1) of REF (C). Personnel who are permanently
stationed in a foreign country shall follow the guidance of the cognizant Department of
Defense/Combatant Command (DOD/CCMD) or Department of State (DOS) Chief of Mission (COM),
as applicable.
b. Leave/Leisure Travel.
(1) Military Personnel including Reservists on Active Duty. Leave travel to or through
foreign countries or territories affected by a Level 3 or Level 2 THN is prohibited, to
include leave that was previously approved. In extenuating circumstances, members may
request a waiver, with final approval authority at the first Flag Officer/SES in their
chain of command. For personnel stationed overseas, and within a location for which the
CDC has issued a COVID-19 THN, follow the guidance of the cognizant DOD/CCMD or DOS/COM,
as applicable.
(2) Civilian Personnel/Dependents/Auxiliarists/Non-Appropriate Funded Personnel. Leave
or leisure travel to or through foreign countries or territories affected by Level 3 or
Level 2 THN is highly discouraged. Consult the CDC and DOS travel advisory websites prior
to making any decision.
(3) Reservists not on orders are highly discouraged from traveling to or through foreign
countries or territories affected by Level 3 or Level 2 THN.
c. Requirements. Commands and personnel are reminded to strictly adhere to the requirements
of REF (D) in requesting and approving any foreign travel.
d. Contractors. Contract personnel that have travelled to, or plan to travel to or through
foreign countries or territories affected by Level 3 or Level 2 THN are required to notify
their Contracting Officer’s Representative. 
3. Domestic Travel. For domestic travel consideration, members must be aware of areas
experiencing "sustained community transmissions" when making travel decisions.  The best
way to access that information at this time is through the state, local, tribal, or
territorial public health authorities; in conjunction with contacting your local USCG
senior medical executive.  In addition, we are looking for ways to provide greater clarity
on "sustained community transmissions" which will be provided in a future update.
a. Official Travel.
(1) Official travel within the U.S., including territories, to areas experiencing sustained
community transmission of COVID-19 should only be performed if it is mission-essential,
time-sensitive work that cannot be handled via distance or remote means.  At this time,
all scheduled CONUS training opportunities designed to provide advanced skills and knowledge
to perform a task required by a specific job is considered mission-essential for purposes of
traveling domestically. Currently all CG “A” schools are fully operating. “A” and “C” School
Training and Travel Guidance will be sent by FORCECOM via ALCOAST. All “C” school convening
questions should be directed to ETQC
https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/forcecom/ETQC/TrainingPage/SitePages/Home.aspx.
(2) Official domestic travel to areas not experiencing sustained community transmission is
authorized.
(3) SELRES and IRR members will continue to report for ADT and IDT as directed by cognizant authority. 
However, Commands are encouraged to provide maximum flexibility to their Reserve members, while
balancing operational readiness with exposure risk, especially those Reservists who travel from
outside of the reasonable commuting distance to their units in order to minimize exposure and
maximize readiness if activation is required.
b. Leave/Leisure Travel.
(1) Military Personnel, including Reservists on Active Duty. Leave travel within the U.S., including
territories, to areas experiencing sustained community transmission is prohibited, including leave
that was previously approved. In extenuating circumstances, members may request a waiver, with
approval authority at the first Flag Officer/SES in their chain of command.
(2) Civilian Personnel/Dependents/Auxiliarists/Contractors/Non-Appropriate Funded Personnel. Leave
travel within the U.S., including territories, to areas experiencing sustained community transmission
is highly discouraged.
(3) Reserve members not on orders are highly discouraged from traveling within the U.S., including
territories, traveling to areas experiencing sustained community transmission.
c. Contractors. Contract personnel that have travelled to, or plan to a travel, within the U.S.,
including territories, to areas experiencing sustained community transmission are required to notify
their Contracting Officer’s Representative.
d. State, local, tribal, and territorial health officials determine if a location is considered an
area of “sustained community transmission” for COVID-19. Operational commanders are to consult with
their Senior Medical Executive or the CG’s designated Public Health Emergency Officer, CAPT Shane
Steiner (CG-1121), if they have questions about the status of a particular locale. The CG is looking
at ways to consolidate a list of areas that qualify as “sustained community transmission.” 
4. Permanent Change of Station (PCS) Travel. The CG, along with the other Services are weighing the
risks and consequences of continuing to PCS members both internationally and domestically. Further
guidance will be provided as soon as possible. 
5. Returning from foreign travel. IAW REF (B), CG personnel, including personnel detailed to the CG,
returning to the U.S. from any country or territory, or who traveled through any county or territory
(including transportation hubs), that the CDC has issued a Level 3 THN shall not return to a CG workspace
until 14 days have passed since leaving that location. This also applies to CG personnel who live with
someone who is subject to self-monitoring due to travel or exposure history. In any case, CG personnel
who are advised during airport screening to self-monitor shall not return to their CG workspace and shall
consult with their supervisor.
a. CG civilian employees who fall under this policy and are returning from official travel, and are not
able to telework, may be granted Weather and Safety Leave during this period.
b. CG military and civilian employees who fall under this policy and are returning from leave or leisure
travel, from or through a location under a Level 3 THN, are expected to telework or take personal leave
if they are subject to quarantine or self-monitoring.
c. CG military and civilian employees will practice social distancing by remaining 6-feet way from people
outside of the home, not traveling, not visiting public/crowded areas, not using public transportation,
and avoiding interaction with pets and other animals.
d. CG military and civilian employees who reside in CG owned housing, who fall under this policy, are to
remain in their home or quarters, per CDC government-wide guidelines and 5 U.S.C. 7106 (a)(2)(D). During
the 14-day interval CG military personnel are subject to a Restriction Of Movement (ROM) and:
(1) Will be assessed daily for fever and symptoms by cognizant CG medical staff via phone consultation,
coordinated through the nearest CG clinic. Members will not come into clinics.
(2) Will self-monitor for the onset of fever, cough, and/or trouble breathing. If these symptoms develop,
CG military personnel are to contact their unit leadership and the cognizant CG medical staff by phone for
further direction. Members who are experiencing a medical emergency should always contact a medical
authority first (e.g., 911).
(3) Will separate themselves from other people in the home/quarters if residing with roommates/family
members and avoid sharing personal items.
(4) Separate lodging will be coordinated by the cognizant chain of command to span the 14-day ROM. For
individuals that live in Unaccompanied Personnel Housing (UPH), open bay settings, or CG provided rooms
with shared bathrooms and/or kitchen facilities, or aboard a vessel (e.g., those who do not live in
individual hotel-style rooms/apartments, or individual housing). The CG senior medical executive is
available to advise in these scenarios.
e. Dependents of CG personnel and guests. Members whose dependents reside in CG owned housing must notify
the local housing officer/authority if their dependents or guests return from a location that the CDC has
issued a Level 3 THN.
f. Auxiliary. Auxiliary members returning from personal travel from or through a location that the CDC has
issued a Level 3 THN are prohibited from participating in CG activities or visiting CG units during a period
of 14-days following the return from travel. Auxiliary members are authorized to participate in CG activities
and visit CG units after 14 days, only if symptom free.
6. The CG maintains a website with authoritative documents, frequently asked questions, and a link to submit
your questions.  This site is updated continuously and should be referenced first, and often
https://www.uscg.mil/Coronavirus/.
7. RADM J. M. Nunan, Assistant Commandant for Human Resources (CG-1), sends.
8. Internet release is authorized.