DATE: September 9, 2020 2:28:37 PM GMT-0400

Fort Lee eases some COVID-19 restrictions, others remain

By Jefferson Wolfe, Deputy Public Affairs Officer

FORT LEE, Virginia — Fort Lee is now operating under Health Protection Condition BRAVO.

Maj. Gen. Rodney D. Fogg, the U.S. Army Combined Arms Support Command and Fort Lee commanding general, approved the HPCON change to take place this week following the post operating at the more restrictive HPCON Charlie level since March.

“We have seen our COVID rate stabilize and remain lower than the state and national levels,” Fogg said. “With the start of the school year, and the improvement of on-post conditions, we are confident we can offer an increase in services to mission essential personnel and still keep our people safe and remain within safety guidelines.”

The change will enable garrison to designate an increase to services for essential personnel, including additional Child and Youth Services activities; Family Morale, Welfare and Recreation services and Soldier Support Center services.

The maximum size for gatherings was increased from 50 to 100 people in facilities that can accommodate it with social distancing.

For Child and Youth Services, Sisisky Child Development Center, Battle Annex Child Development Center and Yorktown Child Development Center re-opened with access for children with mission essential parents. Also, the Youth Center will be open.

Changes for FMWR activities include:

Fitness Centers –

  • MacLaughlin Fitness Center — Hours of operation: Weekdays 5 a.m. – 9 p.m.; weekends, training days and holidays 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., with a 75-person limit.
  • Clark Fitness Center — Hours of operation: Weekdays 4:30 a.m. – 7 p.m., with a 50-person limit. Closed weekends and holidays.
  • Strength Performance Center — Hours of operation: Weekdays 5 a.m. – 9 p.m.; weekends, training days and holidays 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., with a 75-person limit.
  • Army Logistics University Fitness Center — Hours of operation: Weekdays 5 a.m. – 2 p.m., with a 15-person limit. Closed weekends and holidays.
  • Ordnance Fitness Center — Hours of operation: Weekdays 5 a.m. – 8 p.m., and weekends 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., with a 15-person limit. Closed holidays.
  • Note:  at all fitness centers, a face covering is required to enter and while not using equipment. Drinking fountains with bottle-fill capability may be used. All courts, saunas, locker rooms and showers will remain closed.

Bowling Center — Bowling open to the public Monday-Wednesday 11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m., Snack Bar 11:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.; Thursday 11:30 a.m. – 6 p.m., Snack Bar 11:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. Limited indoor dining, carryout, outdoor dining lunch service is offered while maintaining social distancing. The gaming area is open the same hours. The center is closed to the public Friday-Sunday.

The Lee Club — Events up to 100 persons are now authorized while maintaining social distancing. Multiple rooms are available.

Cardinal Golf Course — the course is open with some restrictions. The snack bar is open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., weekends 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. There is limited indoor dining, carryout and outdoor dining lunch service while maintaining social distancing. Shotgun Tournaments are authorized.

Leisure Travel, Picture Frame Shop and the Auto Craft Center — these facilities will be open regular hours while maintaining social distancing.

Intramural Sports activities will resume for Advanced Individual Training and Army Logistics University Soldiers only.

At the Soldier Support Center, the Virginia Department of Veterans Service office resumed in-person operations. It is open 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. weekdays for virtual and in-person consultations and services, by appointment only due to current COVID-19 guidelines. Appointment requests can be made by calling (804) 734-7750 or online at www.dvs.virginia.gov.

Also, government vehicles used for transportation on post may be filled to capacity, but masks must be worn by all personnel in the vehicle.

Some gate hours were adjusted, as well. Weekend hours of 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. were added for A Avenue Gate and the Shop Road Gate is now open weekdays from 6 a.m. – 2 p.m.

“This does not constitute a return to normal operations for Fort Lee,” Fogg said. “Many COVID precautions will remain in place and Soldiers and civilians must stay vigilant to prevent a return to HPCON Charlie on Fort Lee.”

Mission readiness and training remain the priorities for CASCOM and Fort Lee while all personnel continue to look after each other and families.

Teleworking will continue, while mission essential personnel will continue to work in offices. Supervisors will continue to determine personnel requirements per the current orders and mission priorities.

Also, there is no change in Kenner Army Health Clinic operations.

Social distancing remains in place. With the move to HPCON Bravo, masks are still required, units should continue to order protective equipment and cleaning supplies, no off-post passes for AIT students will be granted and AIT and Army Logistics University students must maintain sterile bubbles.

Fort Lee will retain certain HPCON Charlie measures, including:

  • Continue to implement dedicated quarantine and isolation areas. This provides flexibility to respond to outbreaks.
  • Continue to coordinate and communicate with local health departments and commands.
  • Graduations will take place without guests, so families and observers from off post still will not be able to attend.
  • Leave approval will be as follows:
    • Travel inside 180 miles can be approved by the company commander.
    • Travel inside 300 miles can be approved by the battalion commander.
    • Travel farther than 300 miles must be approved by the brigade commander.
    • School commandants may approve exception-to-policy travel to a current COVID hot-spot beyond 300 miles with appropriate restricted movement and precautions upon return.
    • No leave outside the continental United States.

These measures are officially reflected in an updated General Order No. 1, signed by Fogg today. For a copy of the order or more information, visit the installation’s COVID-19 portal at https://home.army.mil/lee/index.php/COVID-19. Personnel should consult their chain of command if they have further questions or specific issues to discuss.

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Fort Lee, as the Home of Army Sustainment, supports the training, education and development of adaptive Army logistics professionals. Major organizations on the installation include the Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Management Agency, Combined Arms Support Command, the Army Logistics University, U.S. Army Ordnance School, U.S. Army Quartermaster School and U.S. Army Transportation School. Fort Lee supports more than 90,000 Soldiers, retirees, veterans, family members and civilian employees in the local area with a regional economic impact of about $2.25 billion per year.

Fort Lee Public Affairs Office | 804.734.7451 | ArmyFortLee.PAO@mail.mil