ALCOAST 098/20 - MAR 2020 COVID-19 TRAVEL AND LEAVE POLICY – UPDATE 1

R 202055 MAR 20
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-DCMS-DPR//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS//N06200//
ALCOAST 098/20
COMDTNOTE 6200
SUBJ:  COVID-19 TRAVEL AND LEAVE POLICY – UPDATE 1
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 202048 MAR 20/ALCOAST 097/20
B. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 140021 MAR 20/ALCOAST 084/20
C. DHS Deputy Under Secretary for Management Memorandum 2 March 2020
D. Novel Coronavirus Planning Order v.3 March 2020
E. DOD Foreign Clearance Guide
F. Military Assignments and Authorized Absences, COMDTINST M1000.8 (series)
G. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 141812 MAR 20/ALCOAST 087/20
1. REF (A) cancels REF (B).
2. This ALCOAST provides Coast Guard (CG) members with updated travel and leave policy
guidance as it relates to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). The intent of this ALCOAST
is to assist unit commanders to preserve force readiness and accomplish CG missions.  Please
see paragraph 4, Domestic Travel, for important guidance regarding local leave.
3. Foreign Travel. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is issuing Travel Health Notices
(THNs) for impacted locations. A list of THNs can be found at:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/
   a. Official Foreign Travel. IAW REF (C), CG official travel to locations that the CDC 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. All countries have been deemed by the
CDC to be a Level 2 THN at minimum, therefore all foreign travel is affected by this policy.
For any official foreign travel, Commanding Officers/Commanders should assess the risk to
mission using the Risk Assessment Tool located in Enclosure (1) of REF (D). 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 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, follow the guidance of the cognizant DOD/CCMD or
DOS/COM, as applicable.
      (2) Civilian Personnel, Reservists not on orders, Dependents, Auxiliarists, and Non-
Appropriated Fund Personnel (NAF). Leave or leisure travel to or through foreign
countries or territories is highly discouraged. Consult the CDC and DOS travel advisory
websites prior to making any decision. If personnel travel internationally, they may be
screened for COVID-19 symptoms when they return to the Unites States. Personnel
returning from travel or who live with someone who is subject to self-monitoring due to
travel or exposure history (as verified by a positive COVID-19 test) shall not return a
CG workspace within 14 days of completing foreign travel in accordance with Para 5.
   c. Requirements. Commands and personnel are reminded to strictly adhere to the
requirements of REF (E) in requesting and approving any foreign travel.
   d. Contractors. Contract personnel that have traveled (or plan to travel) to or through
foreign countries or territories are required to notify their Contracting Officer’s Representative.
4. Domestic Travel. All personnel must be aware of changing conditions in locations they intend
to travel to and through 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 or nearest CG clinic. Health Safety and Work Life and
CG Clinic contact information can be found at https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Portals/10/CG-
1/cg112/docs/pdf/HSWL%20Clinic%20POC%202019.rtf?ver=2019-10-10-144846-843.
   a. Official Travel.
      (1) Official travel within the U.S. is suspended for all active duty members (including
reservists on active duty) and dependents on orders, unless that travel is determined to
be mission-essential, necessary for humanitarian reasons, or warranted due to extreme
hardship. Unit CO/OIC or first O-6 in the chain of command will make this
determination.
      (2) Select DoD Training Facilities, Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETCs),
and all CG Training Centers (TRACENs) remain open to conduct time-sensitive,
mission-essential training. The Education and Training Quota Management Command
(ETQC) maintains a list of mission-essential and time-sensitive readiness activities (to
include “A” and “C” school training) on their CG Portal Site.
https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/forcecom/ETQC/TrainingPage/SitePages/Home.aspx.
      (3) Training Center Cape May remains operational and is developing mitigation strategies
to continue to receive, train, and graduate recruits. The next ship date is planned for 7
April.
      (4) 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. Military Personnel, including Reservists on Active Duty. Military
members are only authorized local travel while on leave or liberty. For purposes of this
message, local travel is defined by the CO/OINC or first O-6 in the chain-of-command. 
Waivers to travel outside of local zones while on leave or liberty must be granted by the
first O-6 in the chain-of-command.
defined by the CO/OIC or first O-6 in the chain-of-command. Member waivers to travel
outside of local leave zones must be granted by the first O-6 in the chain-of-command.
   c. Civilian employees should be aware of CDC travel advisories that provide information
about certain travel conditions. If employees have concerns about returning to the
worksite, they should discuss their options with their supervisors.
5. Returning from foreign travel. IAW REF (C), CG personnel, including personnel detailed to
the CG, returning to the U.S. from any foreign country or territory, or those who traveled
through any foreign country or territory (including transportation hubs) 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 (as verified by a positive COVID-19 test).
   a. CG civilian employees who fall under this paragraph, and have previously been designated
as telework-capable are expected to telework during this period. Civilian employees who
become ill during quarantine should use sick leave if unable to telework. Civilian
employees not previously designated as telework-capable should contact their supervisor.
   b. CG military members who fall under this paragraph, will follow Para 5.a.
   c. CG military and civilian employees subject to self-monitoring will practice social
distancing by remaining 6 feet away from people outside of the home and are restricted
from traveling, visiting public/crowded areas, using public transportation, and shall avoid
interaction with pets and other animals.
   d. CG military and civilian employees who reside in CG-owned housing, who fall under this
paragraph, are to remain in their home or quarters, per CDC government-wide guidelines
and 5 U.S.C. 7106 (a)(2)(D) for 14 days. During this time, 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) 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), separate lodging will be coordinated by the cognizant chain of
command to span the 14-day ROM, if available. 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 or Level 2 THN.
   f. Auxiliary. Auxiliary members returning from personal travel from or through a location
that the CDC has issued a Level 3 or Level 2 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. PCS travel. The CG is working together with our DoD and DHS partners to implement
guidance on PCS travel and House Hold Goods Shipments. Leadership is working across the
Government to make the right decisions to maximize force readiness and protect you and your
families. PCS guidance will be updated shortly.
7. 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/.
8. RADM P. F. Thomas, Deputy for Personnel Readiness, sends.
9. Internet release is authorized.