GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- There is nothing more important than the health and welfare of Goodfellow and the local community. Wing leadership is working with base subject matter experts and community partners of San Angelo and surrounding areas to synchronize efforts. Goodfellow is also diligently working to share information as fast as possible and actively seeking solutions to help mitigate national leadership’s decision impacts. We will continuously update this article to reflect new questions and concerns. Many questions were fielded and comments made on the following:
How is information getting out to retirees about what is available to them?
All information is posted to the Goodfellow webpage. Please visit https://www.goodfellow.af.mil/ for the most up to date information.
If a dependent suspects they are in need of testing for COVID-19 what steps do they need to take?
Please call the 17th MDG appointment line (325) 654-3149 during duty hours and use the COVID extension; the TRICARE Nurse Advice Hotline, after duty hours, at the 1-800-874-2273, option 1; or us the TRICARE Online Secure Messaging. For off-base testing, the Shannon Drive-Through COVID-19 Testing Site has been moved to 110 E. Twohig St. and is operating seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
What is your guidance for face to face staff meetings?
Please wear a mask if you are less than 10 feet away from each other and limit face to face meetings unless necessary. Please utilize tools such as teleconferences, Zoom and Microsoft Teams to limit physical interactions.
What kind of conversations are being had with the San Angelo community leaders to work on our civilian neighbors adhering to CDC and WHO guidance? This would include local businesses enforcing some of these standards. Especially as we have trended towards less base restriction.
Goodfellow is in constant communication with the city and the county about COVID-19, and the governor is considering rolling back some decisions made about COVID-19. The city has released guidance on restrictions to gatherings and social distancing in response to the increase in cases.
I have Airmen scheduled for short TDY courses in August, are the 14 day quarantine procedures still in place or will they be changed soon?
The restriction of movement will either happen on Goodfellow or the base they are coming from. Please speak with your command team about the specifics.
Is there any way to resume pet therapy with masks and social distancing? The dogs have to be 6 feet apart anyway and hand sanitizer has been at every event. I’m just thinking it will continue to promote positive mental health during this time it has been in the past.
Goodfellow Public Health will consider it, but there will need to be discussions with local public health offices.
People who have been notified they are going overseas have been trying to get their passports for their dependents. However, the MPF has notified us who call in that they do not have anyone to process passports at Goodfellow right now. Should we be going to Dyess or San Antonio for these matters? What is your guidance?
MPF is working on pushing guidance to all outbound Goodfellow members who will be going overseas and require a passport.
Housing was already at max capacity both for base housing and city-wide before COVID and now with people PCSing in and not as quickly PCSing out how is the housing crisis being addressed? What discussions are taking place with our city partners?
Right now the discussions are happening with wing leadership. At this time, a year from now, Goodfellow is going to have 1600 additional choices. That is a combination of townhomes, apartments, homes, micro-community, etc at all price ranges to include BAH range.
Travel restrictions will potentially continue into the fall or beyond. What will be the policy for restoring DoD civilians use or lose leave?
We are not prepared to answer this question for civilians. We will look into it and update our website when we find the information.