ALCOAST 396/20 - NOV 2020 COVID-19: TRAVEL AND LEAVE POLICY - UPDATE 3

R 021304 NOV 20
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-1//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N06200//
ALCOAST 396/20
COMDTNOTE 6200
SUBJ:  COVID-19: TRAVEL AND LEAVE POLICY - UPDATE 3
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 012111 JUN 20/ALCOAST 211/20
B. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 231347 APR 20/ALCOAST 150/20
C. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 011820 JUN 20/ALCOAST 259/20
D. COVID-19 PLANORD (series)
E. DHS Deputy Under Secretary for Management Memorandum 17 March 2020
F. DOD Foreign Clearance Guide
1. This ALCOAST cancels REF (A) and provides all Coast Guard (CG) members with
travel and leave policy as it relates to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).
The intent of this ALCOAST is to update procedures for leave and foreign
travel. This is in response to the changing force health protection posture in
relation to COVID-19.
2. Major updates include the following:
    a. Quarantine/Isolation. Commands have discretion in determining whether
members returning from foreign travel from a country with an active CDC travel
advisory must quarantine. However, members returning from foreign travel
must still abide by all local rules concerning quarantine when not acting in the
course of their official duties (e.g., driving to work).
    b. Duty Status. Commands must not charge leave while their military members are
in a COVID-19 related duty status. COVID-19 related duty statuses include ROM,
Isolation, and Quarantine.
3. Domestic/Non-foreign 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 is through the state, local,
tribal, or territorial public health authorities. The CDC maintains a link to
all state and territorial health departments here:
https://www.cdc.gov/publichealthgateway/healthdirectories/healthdepartments.html
For questions or assistance in understanding this information, contact 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%20
POC%202019.rtf.
    a. Official Travel.
        (1) Official travel within the U.S. is authorized for essential,
time-sensitive missions, understanding that the number of time-sensitive missions
will increase the longer that travel restrictions are in place. The unit CO/OIC
or first O-6/GS-15 in the chain-of-command must balance risk-to-mission and
risk-to-member before authorizing official travel.
        (2) FORCECOM units are at varying stages of operating capability. FORCECOM
will continue to resume readiness activities as the situation allows. For the
current status of all FORCECOM readiness activities (AIA, Exercise Support,
Class “A” and “C” schools), refer to
https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/forcecom/ETQC/SitePages/Home.aspx. Waiver or
cancellation requests for “A” or “C” schools due to COVID-19 travel concerns require
approval from the first O-6/GS-15 in the chain-of-command.
        (3) SELRES and IRR. IAW REF (B), The performance of IDT and ADT-AT remain
mission essential activities ensuring individual mobilization and unit readiness
to respond to contingencies. 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, are authorized
local travel while on leave or liberty. For the purposes of this message, local
travel is defined by the CO/OIC and should be informed by and generally aligned
with state and local jurisdictional posture. Travel outside of these locally defined
zones while on leave or liberty must be discussed with and approved by the CO/OIC
or first O-6/GS-15 in the chain-of-command. When considering requests to travel
beyond the local area, Commands should weigh all risk factors including state and
local government posture at the destination, mode of transportation, planned
activities, lodging, and precautions taken by the requesting traveler. Before
approving travel outside the local area, Commands should weigh the impacts if
quarantine/ROM/isolation are required post travel. Members are reminded to follow
CDC guidelines for safe interactions in public whenever on leave or liberty.
        (2) All members are reminded to follow CDC travel advisories that provide
information about travel conditions.
        (3) Commands must ensure all members of their command are aware and
understand applicable measures of REF (C) to reduce the risk of exposure,
preserving force health readiness.
    c. Commanders should continue to monitor CDC/state/local health officials’
guidelines in conjunction with local transmission assessments to safeguard the
workforce through proper preventative and mitigation measures and conduct
appropriate and frequent counseling for personnel both on and off duty.
4. 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 (E),
http://dhsconnect.dhs.gov/org/comp/mgmt/policies/Directives/122-03.pdf, CG official
travel for all employees to locations that the CDC has issued a Level 2 or higher
THN is restricted to only mission essential, time-sensitive work that cannot be
handled via distance or remote means. For any official foreign travel, Commanding
Officers/Commanders should assess the risk to mission using the COVID-19 Risk
Assessment Flowchart (REF D, Enclosure 2). 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.
    c. Requirements. Commands and personnel are reminded to strictly adhere to the
requirements of REF (F) 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.
    e. CG military and civilian employees who reside in CG-owned housing, who are
returning from personal travel from or through a location that the CDC has issued
a Level 2 or higher THN should follow the guidance in Para 2.a.
    f. 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 2 or
higher THN.
    g. Auxiliary. Auxiliary members returning from personal travel from or
through a location that the CDC has issued a Level 2 or higher THN are authorized
to participate in CG activities or visiting CG units and should follow the
guidance in Para 2.a.
5. PCS travel. For guidance on PCS travel, refer to the latest PCS & HHG SITREP
ALCOAST.
6. Travel and Leave Approval. Although leave and travel approval has been elevated
within the chain of command, units should make every effort to grant leave for
military members when the risk is acceptable.
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. For comments or questions, please contact the Office of Military Personnel and
Policy, COMDT (CG-1331) at: HQS-PolicyandStandards@uscg.mil.
9. RADM J. M. Nunan, Assistant Commandant for Human Resources, sends.
10. Internet release is authorized.