ALCOAST 141/24 - MAR 2024 2024 UPDATED COVID-19 AND RESPIRATORY VIRUS GUIDANCE

R 271747Z MAR 24 MID120000986100U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 141/24
SSIC 6230
SUBJ: 2024 UPDATED COVID-19 AND RESPIRATORY VIRUS GUIDANCE
A. Immunizations and Chemoprophylaxis for the Prevention of
Infectious Diseases, COMDTINST 6230.4G
B. Coast Guard Medical Manual, COMDTINST 6000.1F
C. Coast Guard Occupational Medicine Manual, COMDTINST M6260.32
D. Defense Health Agency Procedural Instruction 6025.34, Influenza
Vaccination Program
1. We are in the midst of respiratory virus season in the Northern
Hemisphere. This includes COVID-19, influenza, and other viruses.
These viruses are causing cold symptoms such as cough, sore throat,
fever, fatigue, headache and body aches. CG personnel are encouraged
to take measures to reduce their risk of contracting respiratory
viruses, which are easily spread when in close contact with sick or
recently ill shipmates, family, friends or acquaintances.
Such illnesses can negatively impact health, duty availability, and
mission readiness. Frequent handwashing, mask wearing when exposed
to someone with cold symptoms or while recovering from an upper
respiratory infection, if not strictly isolated from others. Avoid
presenting to work when ill (with supervisor permission). Take all
effective measures to reduce the risk of contracting or transmitting
infections.
2. After four years of an initial pandemic, now endemic experience
with COVID-19, most Americans have been exposed, infected and sicken
by this virus multiple times. The natural immunity created by these
infections in conjunction with available seasonal vaccinations for
COVID-19 and influenza, has made our immune systems more effective
at eliminating the virus than we were during the early stages of the
pandemic. Widely available, effective anti-viral medications for
people with risk of severe disease has decreased the need for
hospitalization. Hospitalized persons with COVID-19 are generally
older and have not been vaccinated. Fortunately, the complications
and severity of illness have diminished since 2020 due to herd
immunity and medications which successfully combat the virus.
3. The CG's policy on COVID-19 has been to follow the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations and to practice
prevention methods such as masking, hand-washing, increased
ventilation (e.g., meet outdoors or open a window), and social
distancing. The CDC is now updating its guidance as a Respiratory
Virus Guidance publication, which includes COVID-19 and other
respiratory viruses like influenza ("the flu"), and respiratory
syncytial virus (RSV), because the overall risk for severe illness
and hospitalization from COVID-19 is similar to that of other
respiratory illnesses.
4. The updated CDC guidance emphasizes the importance of
vaccinations, whenever eligible, as a core strategy for prevention.
Influenza vaccination is an annual medical readiness requirement,
and must be recorded no later than 30 April 2024 for the northern
hemisphere, in JMRRS. The updated COVID-19 vaccination is
recommended to add protection against new variants of the virus,
however, it is not currently required. The RSV vaccination is
recommended for select groups, and most active duty personnel do
not fall into the eligible population, except for pregnant women
and personnel over 60 years of age.
5. Practices that improve cleanliness are also a core prevention
strategy to lower risk from respiratory viruses such as covering
your coughs and sneezes, washing or sanitizing your hands often, and
cleaning frequently touched surfaces.
6. Taking steps for cleaner air reduces viral transmission, such as
bringing in fresh outside air (opening a window, air ventilation
systems, purifying indoor air, or gathering outdoors).
7. Wearing a mask is a further step to protect yourself and others
in indoor environments where the risk of respiratory illness is
greater, such as CG clinics, afloat units, and in tight quarters
(such as at TRACENs) when known respiratory viruses are circulating.
For example, if an afloat unit is experiencing COVID-19 or flu
cases, masking can help reduce further spread. Any unit can require
masking if it makes sense to do so. Surgical masks may help, but
KN95 masks are even better at protecting oneself and others. Health
professionals may be fit tested for N95 respirators which offer the
best protection.
8. Physical distance between yourself and others who are ill can
reduce the risk of spreading a respiratory virus, although there is
no "perfect" distance as communicability depends on many factors.
9. Testing is an additional prevention strategy to assist in making
decisions to further protect yourself and others. If you are ill,
contact your servicing CG clinic or your Primary Care Provider to
find out if you have a respiratory virus such as COVID-19, flu or
RSV, so that specific treatments can be given, if appropriate.
10. If you do have COVID-19, and you no longer have a fever (greater
than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit) off fever reducing medicines for 24
hours, you may return to work if feeling better. It is recommended
that you practice prevention strategies for at least 5 additional
days (e.g. masking) or possibly longer depending on how well you
feel. COVID-19 can be relapsing, e.g., after "recovering" for days,
upper respiratory symptoms recur. If that happens, take care of
yourself with additional rest and fluids and be aware not to infect
others.
11. The new CDC guidance allows for flexibility depending on how a
person feels after a respiratory illness. Therefore, it is important
to include prevention strategies outlined in paragraphs 5 through 8
since you may still be contagious for five or more days depending on
the type of respiratory virus. This change in guidance reflects that
fever correlates with the most infectious period of a virus and can
be applied to all respiratory viruses.
12. For congregate settings, healthcare settings, and afloat units,
stricter adherence to prevention measures is recommended, i.e. mask
wearing by the unit when flu and COVID-19 are circulating, frequent
surface cleaning, social distancing, and increasing ventilation
where possible to reduce viral transmission.
13. Clinics are encouraged to use 4-plex PCR testing during elevated
levels of respiratory virus infections since diagnosis can inform
medical treatment options.
14. You may review the CDC update by accessing the following links:
Respiratory Virus Guidance Update FAQs
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/guidance/faq.html

CDC's Respiratory Virus Guidance:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/guidance/respiratory-virus-
guidance.html

15. POC: CDR Deborah Belsky, Chief, Force Health Protection, COMDT
(CG-1K21), 202-494-0877, or Deborah.Belsky@uscg.mil.
16. POC: CAPT Christopher Janik (CG-1K21), 202-475-5171. Email:
Christopher.Janik@uscg.mil
17. RADM Dana L. Thomas, Assistant Commandant for Health, Safety,
& Work-Life (CG-1K), sends.
18. Internet release is authorized.