Virtual Q+A


Col Ryan Messer and Chief Justin Apticar answer questions submitted by 53d Wing members about COVID-19.

USA Government Guidance

For the most recent information on COVID-19, please go to:
https://www.coronavirus.gov or https://www.usa.gov/coronavirus.

common terms and definitions

Asymptomatic:  producing or showing no symptoms; healthy; not displaying symptoms of the given disease. If a civilian employee is healthy (asymptomatic), but chooses to stay home or self-quarantine because they’ve been in contact with an individual exposed to COVID-19 or because a family member has been quarantined/isolated due exposure to COVID-19, they may take annual leave, advanced leave, other paid time off, such as comp time, or leave without pay (LWOP). An agency may NOT authorize admin leave. However, if an asymptomatic civilian employee is subject to movement restrictions (quarantine or isolation) under the direction of public health authorities due to a significant risk of exposure to a quarantinable communicable disease such as COVID-19., OPM has determined that agencies may authorize weather and safety leave (admin leave). (Civilian Personnel Guidance)

Admin leave: if not granted by the installation commander, it must be approved through your host-base EMR specialist (sent in email on 12 Mar by Col Messer).  In the request to the EMR specialist, include: Requesting Supervisor: Name, Grade/Series, Org; Employee: Name, Grade/Series, Org; Rationale/Reason for Request in the request. Admin leave is not allowed for someone who is symptomatic or ill, sick leave is required in that case. (Civilian Personnel Guidance)

Local area: the place where the member lives and from which he or she commutes daily to the duty station. (AFI 36-3003)
 
Exceptions to travel (when GO approval is required): Exceptions may be granted in writing to the guidance contained herein for compelling cases where the travel is: (1) determined to be mission essential; (2) necessary for humanitarian reasons; (3) warranted due to extreme hardship. Approval authority for these exceptions belongs to the Combatant Commander if the individual is assigned to a combatant command. The Secretary of the Military Department concerned and the Chief Management Officer in the case of Defense Field Activities and Field Agencies retain the authority for all other individuals. This authority may be delegated in writing no lower than the first general or flag officer or member of the Senior Executive Service in the traveler's chain of command or supervision. These exceptions are to be done on a case by case basis, shall be limited in number, and shall be coordinated between the gaining and losing organizations. (13 Mar 2020, Stop Movement Order, linked above)

Isolation: Occurs when a person is known or believed to be infected with a disease (COVID 19) and is likely transmittable. If you are directed to isolate, you should separate yourself from others, even inside your own home if possible. (cdc.gov)

Quarantine: Occurs when a person is believed to have been exposed to a disease (COVID 19) but is not symptomatic. If you are directed to quarantine you should avoid going out in public for a period of 14 days to the max extent possible. (cdc.gov)
 
Social distancing: The CDC defines social distancing as remaining out of congregate settings, avoiding mass gatherings and observing 6 feet of separation from others whenever possible. (cdc.gov)
 
Restriction of movement: To ensure mission accomplishment, when you are healthy and directed to stay at home and restrict your movement, you will be considered on convalescent leave status (military members only) for Line of Duty determinations and should follow CDC guidelines for social distancing, remain inside the local area, and make smart personal risk decisions to reduce potential exposure to COVID 19.

Close contact: Being within approximately 6 ft of a COVID‐19 case for a prolonged period of time; close contact can occur while caring for, living with, visiting, or sharing a health care waiting area or room with a COVID‐19 case. Also includes having direct contact with infectious secretions of a COVID‐19 case (e.g. being coughed on). 

Self‐observation: People should remain alert for subjective fever, cough, or difficulty breathing. If they feel feverish or develop cough or difficulty breathing during the self‐observation period, they should take their temperature, self‐isolate, limit contact with others, and seek advice by telephone from a healthcare provider or their local health department to determine whether medical evaluation is needed.

Self‐monitoring: Means people should monitor themselves for fever by taking their temperatures twice a day and remain alert for cough or difficulty breathing. If they feel feverish or develop measured fever, cough, or difficulty breathing during the self-monitoring period, they should self‐isolate, limit contact with others, and seek advice by telephone from a healthcare provider or their local health department to determine whether medical evaluation is needed.
 
Mission essential: Defined on a PD for civilians. An individual required to perform a mission essential task as identified by the commander/leadership of that organization. If a base is on "mission essential" status, only individuals who have been identified as mission essential personnel should be coming to the workplace. (Civilian Personnel Guidance)

Emergency essential: A Department of Defense civilian whose assigned duties and responsibilities must be accomplished following the evacuation of non-essential personnel during a declared emergency or outbreak of war. (U.S. Code) 

Minimal manning: not a defined term, but minimal manning for military members, telework, or shift work schedule may be necessary to allow for social distancing in your office spaces. 

telework guidance

If you are civilian interested in teleworking, please talk to your supervisor/commander. If you are a supervisor/commander interested in having your employees telework, please contact 53d Wing civilian personnel or your host-base ERM Specialist. 
Situation Matrix: 

53d Wing Civilian Employees that use ATAAPS:

If you are authorized to telework, here is how to enter a telework code in ATAAPS:
Enter Teleworking Codes
1. Click the Labor link on the ATAAPS Menu.
2. Enter the regular time worked.
3. Click the NtDiff/Haz/Oth button.
4. Click the Add link on the Haz/Oth line below the
day requiring the telework reason code.
5. Select a Telework code from the Reason list.
6. Select the checkboxes for the days this Telework
code is applicable. Note: The day the on which
the Add link was clicked is already selected.
7. Click the Reason button. Note: The Telework
code displays in the Hz/Oth field.
8. Click the Save button.
 
If the employee is regularly scheduled to Telework they will use TW of the telework is unscheduled in response to a situation (e.g. COVID19) they will use TS.
 
The certification Window for the following Pay Period End Dates (PPE): PPE 28 MAR 20; PPE 11 APR 20; PPE 25 APR 20, will be open effective 18 MAR 20, to help with being able to certify as early as possible. We are not having accelerated payroll, but we want to minimize the possibility of time not being certified on time.
 
ATAAPS can be accessed on a personal computer with a CAC/Smart Card Reader on commercial internet. It does not have to be on a government computer or be on the Virtual Private Network (VPN). If any of your certifiers have a government cell phone, they may also be able to access ATAAPS and certify as well. Ordinarily a timecard is required to be Concurred on by the employee before certification; however, if the employee is not able to do so, it does not prevent the Certifier from certifying the timecard. A Timekeeper can enter time on the timecard on behalf of the employee. When the employee is able to concur, they will need to do so, as well as make any necessary changes so that it will update as a retro transaction.