Cherry Point Coronavirus Information Page
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Greetings Cherry Point,
One week ago, I sent a message to provide some clarity of the actions we have taken aboard this air station in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. My intent then remains the same today. I want to provide you with the straight scoop on the steps being implemented to reduce the chance of exposure or contraction of the virus.
Yesterday we changed our Health Protection Condition from Bravo to Charlie. This means we have increased our preventive posture due to the continued potential for transmission of COVID-19 in our area. This move was deliberate based on the fact that community transmission has been observed in North Carolina. To date, the number of confirmed cases in the local community remains steady with five cases in Carteret County and three cases in Craven County. The way we keep those numbers in check is through determined adherence to limiting our interaction in public, continued social distancing, and disciplined hygiene and hand-washing.
We have some changes on the air station that will help us keep COVID-19 at bay. While our fitness facilities remain closed (much to the chagrin of Marines and Sailors), many services remain available at a reduced capacity. Most of our eateries are open, but only for carry out or drive thru. The Marine Corps Exchange and our commissary remain open. The shelves in the commissary look similar to many of the grocery stores in town with limited paper products, poultry and meat, and certain canned goods. And by the way, the employees of these facilities are doing their best to keep the shelves stocked. I ask that you purchase what you need and avoid the temptation to buy extra. While the N.C. Governor has closed barber shops in town, our barbers continue to provide motivated haircuts with adjusted hours and staffing to optimize throughput during this period of time. And our CDC remains open to care for the children of essential personnel. This curtailment has allowed us to close one of the three CDC facilities while still providing a critical service to our tenants.
Speaking of our tenants, they continue to perform in the outstanding manner we have come to expect. 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing continues to prepare to answer the Nation’s call when it comes. Fleet Readiness Center East remains hard at work to ensure continued Naval Aviation readiness. And Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point has sharpened its focus on addressing critical medical readiness tasks while providing essential screening and care for potential COVID-19 patients.
While all of this is going on, the physical presence of Marines, Sailors and Civilians at work on base has decreased as much as possible. We have taken every precaution to ensure that high-risk individuals have been sent home to telework. In fact, we have maximized telework opportunities so our employees can avoid the workplace in support of social distancing measures. Clearly this is not possible in every case. Those critical billets that require physical presence on the air station continue to be filled. We will keep Cherry Point operational as we confront this challenge.
I want you to know I appreciate the efforts of everyone in the Cherry Point family to remain vigilant during this difficult time. This is not fun for anyone. But continued determination by each and every one of you will enable us to endure this unprecedented challenge and get back to our normal lives as soon as possible.
Semper Fidelis,
Col. Huber
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Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point has implemented Health Protection Condition Charlie (HPCON-C) as directed by Marine Corps Installations East (MCIEAST), following guidance from Department of Defense, and to maintain the readiness and protection of air station personnel and families.
HPCON-C means there are multiple confirmed cases of a disease, is evidence of sustained community transmission or a report of multiple unlinked confirmed cases of disease such as 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), and that people have been infected with the virus and the spread is increasing.
As of today, MCAS Cherry Point still has no confirmed case of disease. Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in North Carolina is currently at 636 and two reported deaths. Craven County has three confirmed cases, and multiple reported confirmed cases in the surrounding counties of Beaufort, Carteret, Lenior and Pitt, as well as Onslow, the county in which Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is located.
MCAS Cherry Point leaders are taking into consideration the actions of state and local health officials to be prepared to adjust access to services, limit movement or enforce various mitigation efforts prevent a potential outbreak and to preserve community health. This includes actions such as cancelling or curtailing services, events and operations that could potentially facilitate the spread of the virus.
Locally, MCAS Cherry Point personnel along with Naval Health Center Cherry Point (NHCCP) are working diligently to review best practices, enhance plans and remain prepared should there be a need to increase to the next level of HPCON.
Personnel who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 such as a cough, fever and shortness of breath or have been exposed to the virus should remain home and contact their health care professional for guidance or call the Nurse Advice Hotline 1-800-TRICARE (1-800-874-2273 option 1).
In HPCON-C, personnel are advised to continue practicing strict hygiene and social distancing already implemented in previous health protection conditions.
All updates involving MCAS Cherry Point and NHCCP will be posted here:
For additional guidance on COVID-19, please visit www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.
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Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point has implemented Health Protection Condition Bravo as directed by Marine Corps Installations East (MCIEAST) Health Protection Condition Bravo (HPCON-B) to maintain the readiness and protection of base personnel and families.
HPCON-B means there are confirmed cases of a disease such as the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). While currently there is no case of disease in the MCAS Cherry Point community, there is one confirmed case of COVID-19 on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and one confirmed case in Craven County, North Carolina. There is no community spread of the disease in either area.
MCIEAST, which includes MCAS Cherry Point, military and medical leaders are taking the necessary precautions to prevent a potential outbreak.
Locally, MCAS Cherry Point personnel along with Naval Health Center Cherry Point (NHCCP) are working diligently to review best practices, hone plans and remain prepared should there be a need to increase to the next level of HPCON.
Personnel who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 such as a cough, fever and shortness of breath or have been exposed to the virus should remain home and contact their health care professional for guidance.
In HPCON-B, personnel are advised to practice social distancing, avoid crowded areas and stay home as much as possible. Routinely clean surfaces, cough into your elbow, wash hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water and use alcohol-based hand sanitizer (when the ability to wash hands is unavailable).
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Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point continues its operational pause March 17. Essential personnel should report for work, unless otherwise directed. 2nd MAW and tenant organization personnel should check in with their chain of command for reporting instructions.
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Due to rapidly evolving situation with COVID-19 and out of an abundance of caution Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point, in sync with MCIEAST, is conducting an operational pause starting Monday, March 16, 2020 to reset and assess support to our tenant commands due to decisions in the last 48 hours at community, state, and federal level.
MCAS Cherry Point supports the restriction of non-essential movement in order to protect the force, community, and our families. As such essential personnel will report to work March 16. MCAS Cherry Point essential personnel will support 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing MAW training.
As part of the operational pause on Monday, only the following MCCS services and activities will open:
- All exchanges/Marine Marts,
- food service operations,
- child development centers, and
- the Cherry Point and Devil Dog Inns.
All other MCCS services and activities will close on March 16 in order to prepare for any curtailment directives that may materialize later in the week.
2nd MAW and tenant command personnel should check with your chain of command for reporting instructions.
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Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point has implemented Health Protection Condition Alpha (HPCON-A), in sync with Marine Corps Installations East (MCIEAST) implementation across all of its installations to maintain the readiness and protection of base personnel and families.
HPCON-A alerts the base population to an unusual health risk or disease, in this case the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
MCAS Cherry Point personnel, along with Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point (NHCCP), is working diligently to review best practices, enhance plans and remain prepared should there be a need to increase the level of HPCON.
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Personnel who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 such as a cough, fever and shortness of breath or have been exposed to the virus should remain home and contact their health care professional for guidance or the Nurse Advice Hotline 1-800-TRICARE (1-800-874-2273 option 1). If you need immediate medical attention, call 911 – or, go to an emergency room.
All updates involving MCAS Cherry Point and NHCCP will be posted here:
For additional guidance on COVID-19, please visit www.cdc.gov/covid19.
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