The Department of Defense recently released the Consolidated Department of Defense Coronavirus Disease 2019 Force Health Protection (FHP) Guidance to serve as a uniform and consolidated policy for DOD's continued response to COVID- 19, and serve as the DOD COVID-19 Workplace Safety Plan required by Executive Order 13991, "Protecting the Federal Workforce and Requiring Mask-Wearing," January 20, 2021.
This memorandum consolidates and replaces the listed FHP memoranda, complies with applicable court orders, and is consistent with relevant Presidential directives and Office of Management and Budget and Safer Federal Workforce Task Force guidance.
Specifically, the guidance consolidates, incorporates, and rescinds the following policy and guidance:
- Secretary of Defense Memorandum, “Guidance for Commanders’ Risk-Based Responses and Implementation of the Health Protection Condition Framework During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic,” April 29, 2021
- Secretary of Defense Memorandum, “Use of Masks and Other Public Health Measures,” February 4, 2021
- Secretary of Defense Memorandum, “Updated Conditions-based Approach to Coronavirus Disease 2019 Personnel Movement and Travel Restrictions," March 15, 2021
- Secretary of Defense Memorandum, “Way Forward for SARS-CoV-2 Testing Within the Department of Defense,” April 29, 2021
- Deputy Secretary of Defense Memorandum, “Updated Coronavirus Disease 2019 Guidance Related to Travel and Meetings,” September 24, 2021
- Deputy Secretary of Defense Memorandum, “Mandatory Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination of DoD Civilian Employees,” October 1, 2021
- Under Secretary of Defense Memorandum, “Administrative Leave for Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination of Department of Defense Employees,” April 14, 2021
- Under Secretary of Defense Memorandum, “Force Health Protection Guidance for the Novel Coronavirus,” January 30, 2020, and all supplements.
- Under Secretary of Defense Memorandum, “Civilian Personnel Guidance for DoD Components in Responding to Coronavirus Disease 2019,” March 8, 2020
- Under Secretary of Defense Memorandum, “Updated Guidance for Mask and Screening Testing for all Department of Defense Installations and Other Facilities,” March 1, 2022
As Federal COVID-19 guidance and requirements evolve, the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness will revise the affected portions of the document to rapidly update and disseminate targeted FHP guidance to all DOD Components. These updates will be in a form that can replace the pages of the consolidated guidance that the updates supersede. DOD Components may, in tum, issue any necessary supplemental guidance and, most importantly, will rapidly execute actions required to protect the health of the Force and preserve mission readiness.
The Consolidated Department of Defense Coronavirus Disease 2019 Force Health Protection Guidance can be found here.