ALCOAST 040/21 - FEB 2021 COVID-19: USCG COVID-19 SAFE WORKPLACE GUIDANCE

R 022150Z FEB 21
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST

UNCLAS
ALCOAST 040/21
SSIC 5100
SUBJ:  COVID-19: USCG COVID-19 SAFE WORKPLACE GUIDANCE
A. EO 13991 Protecting the Federal Workforce and Requiring
Mask-Wearing
B. OMB Memorandum on COVID-19 Safe Federal Workplace: Agency
Model Safety Principles M-21-15
C. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 061552 APR 20/ALCOAST 124/20
D. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 171929 APR 20/ALCOAST 144/20
E. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 091320 DEC 20/ALCOAST 445/20
F. Health, Safety and Work-Life Service Center Technical
Directive 2020-006
G. USCG Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Planning Order
H. COVID-19 Restriction of Movement and Testing Information & Guide
I. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 101442 JUL 20/ALCOAST 268/20
J. FORCECOM COVID-19 Response: Home ROM for Training
K. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 021304 NOV 20/ALCOAST 396/20
1. The health and safety of our workforce remains the
highest priority of Coast Guard Leadership and of the
Administration as articulated in REF (B). This message
reinforces existing Coast Guard guidance for standard
COVID-19 safe workplace practices and the use of face
masks to prevent the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, and
aligns with REFs (A) and (B).
2. Units should strive to comply with the intent of
REFs (A) and (B) to the best extent feasible without
negatively impacting Coast Guard operations or mission
effectiveness or other military functions. For the sake
of complying with the intent of REFs (A) and (B) “Federal
buildings” within Coast Guard control include buildings,
or office space within buildings, that are owned, rented,
or leased by the Coast Guard. It does not apply to
operational assets such as cutters, small boats, and
aircraft; or operational workspaces like watch or command
centers.
3. COVID-19 Workplace Safety Plans. REF (B) requires
the development of tailored COVID-19 Workplace Safety
Plans by the agency only. REF (F) and the COMDT (CG-OEM-2)
COVID-19 Community of Practice CGPORTAL webpage serve
as the USCG workplace safety plan and meet the requirements
of REF (B). The most current versions can be found on the
CGPORTAL at:
https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/cgcpe2/Pages/HomeCOP.aspx.
4. Telework and remote work. REF (B) articulates as a
general principle telework and remote work should be
maximized and workplace capacity limited during periods
of high community transmission. CO/OIC’s should review
local facility occupancy measures and limits along with
community virus transmission factors in determining the
maximum level of telework and remote work feasible in
light of operational considerations. Workspaces, including
spaces within federal buildings, where personnel must be
on-site in order to meet operational requirements (Command
Centers, SCIF, etc.) are exempt from capacity limits; however
other mitigation strategies must be utilized to minimize the
risk of transmission. When determining occupancy limits the
entire building capacity limit should be used, while taking
workspace configuration into consideration. In addition to
telework and remote work, other community spread mitigation
efforts like the use of flexible work schedules designed to
maximize social distancing may be used to meet the intent of
this section. The CDC COVID Data Tracker County View, Community
Profile Report provides a comprehensive view of all community
COVID transmission factors and can be useful to Commanders in
assessing community transmission levels. The report can be
downloaded at: https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/
#community-profile-report.
5. COVID-19 Coordination Team. The CG COVID Crisis Action
Team (CCAT) was stood up in mid-spring 2020 as part of
the overall CG pandemic response and meets the requirement
in REF (B) to establish an agency level coordination team.
6. Face Coverings. In accordance with REFs (A) and (B),
all persons visiting Federal buildings or on Federal lands
are required to wear face masks consistent with CDC guidelines.
Additionally, all on-duty or on-site Federal employees, and
on-site Federal contractors, are required to wear face masks
consistent with CDC guidelines. This policy updates guidance
in REFs (C), (D) and (E). It is critical that CO’s/OIC’s
ensure all employees, on-site contractors, and visitors
to Federal workplaces are aware of the requirement to comply
with CDC guidelines with respect to wearing face masks.
The following specific requirements apply:
   a. Masks should be worn consistently. Masks should be
worn in any common areas or shared workspaces (including
open floorplan office space, cubicle embankments, and
conference rooms) when 6ft physical distancing cannot be
maintained. Masks should also be worn in outdoor shared
spaces when physical distancing cannot be maintained.
   b. Commanders should take this opportunity to review
their Unit Infection Control Plans per REF (F) to ensure
that local face mask guidance is current and properly
employed as part of a comprehensive infection control plan.
The Technical Directive is at:
https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/hswlsc/SafeEvHealth/Pages/
COVID-19-Infection-Control-Plan.aspx.
   c. Exceptions to this guidance are authorized consistent
with CDC guidelines, for example when an individual is alone
in an office, or for a limited time when eating or drinking
and maintaining physical distancing.
7. In combination with the Presidential Executive Order,
the guidance in REFs (C), (D) and (E) remain in effect.
This includes the prohibition of face masks with exhalation
valves/vents and the prohibition of single layer neck gaiters.
CDC guidelines and recommendations can be found here:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/
cloth-face-cover-guidance.html.
8. Testing. REF (B) requires the CDC to develop a testing plan
for the Federal workforce. Until that guidance is available,
REF (H) should be used.
9. Contact tracing. REF (I) codifies and defines the Coast
Guard COVID-19 contact tracing program. Links to current
guidance are also located on the COMDT (CG-OEM-2) COVID-19
Community of Practice CGPORTAL provided earlier in this message.
10. Travel. CDC travel guidelines regarding mask wear and
other travel risk mitigation measures should be strictly
followed in all cases of travel regardless if travel is
for personal or official government business. As per REF
(J), FORCECOM may require additional more stringent procedures
by members attending close contact training or those who
traveled from high risk areas as defined by the CDC. REF (K)
provides Coast Guard specific additional guidance on COVID-19
travel policies and guidance.
11. Symptom Monitoring. CDC Symptom Monitoring guidelines
and processes should be adapted by CO/OIC’s based upon
local conditions and community spread and are included
in Unit Infection Control Plans. However, members should
be reminded of the symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and
should always be vigilant.
12. Quarantine and Isolation. The COVID-19 Risk Assessment
Flowchart in REF (G) used in conjunction with REF (H) define
Coast Guard quarantine and isolation procedures and policies.
13. Confidentiality. All current Coast Guard Privacy and HIPAA
policies are the primary guides Commanders should continue to
use to meet the requirements of REF (B).
14. Workplace Operations. Individual Unit Infection Control
Plans tailored to meet local conditions and constraints satisfy
the workplace operations requirements of REF (B). CO’s/OIC’s
should review these plans to ensure they remain effective.
15. Vaccination for SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19) is both safe and
effective and the critical path to move through and beyond the
ongoing global pandemic. Our Coast Guard workforce is encouraged
to be vaccinated at your earliest opportunity. Current vaccine
supply chain factors will keep the Service’s focus on unvaccinated
Tier 1A members. As increasing numbers/percentages within our
workforce are vaccinated, Coast Guard guidance for safe workplace
practices will be revisited.
16. COMDT (CG-113) POC: Mr. Glenn Gebele (202) 475-5195 or
Glenn.L.Gebele@uscg.mil
17. RADM Dana L. Thomas, Director, Health, Safety, and Work-Life
(CG-11), sends.
18. Internet release is authorized.