Pentagon Ups Health Restrictions Due To Rise In COVID-19 Cases

ARLINGTON, VA — The Pentagon, the D.C. region's largest office building, will be operating with stricter health restrictions starting Monday due to the growing number of positive COVID-19 tests over the past 15 days, according to a release.

The Pentagon Reservation will operate under Health Protection Condition Bravo effective 5 a.m. on Monday. At the same time, Armed Forces Retirement Home campuses in Washington, D.C. and Gulfport, Mississippi, will transition to HPCON Charlie.

"The Secretary of Defense’s number one priority during the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be protecting our workforce while still performing our national security mission," the press release said. "Supervisors will continue to provide maximum telework opportunities and flexible scheduling to optimize the workforce while defending our nation, taking care of our people, and ensuring success through teamwork."

The Virginia Department of Health reported 1,178 new cases of the coronavirus, the third day in a row that new cases have totaled more than 1,000. The last time the number of positive cases were above 1,000 was in late April.

On Thursday, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam recommended residents begin wearing a mask indoors, regardless of their vaccination status.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser also issued an order on Thursday requiring that masks be required in public indoor settings beginning Saturday, according to The Washington Post. The new requirement in D.C. will apply to vaccinated and unvaccinated people alike over the age of 2.

Under HPCON Bravo, service members, visitors, and federal employees and contractors, are required to wear a mask indoors on the Pentagon Reservation, whether they've received the COVID-19 vaccine or not. Physical distancing remains at 6 feet.

The Defense Department will continue to operate at maximum telework levels, with organizations expected to keep workplace occupancy rates below 50 percent of normal operations.

Personnel who are medically vulnerable may continue to self-declare and telework when possible. Supervisors must take precautions in order to limit exposure for these employees while they are in the workplace.

The Pentagon will continue to conduct random COVID-19 entrance screenings of 100 percent for all visitors and 10-20 percent for facility personnel.

Public tours of the Pentagon and the Pentagon National 9/11 Memorial will be cease.

Gatherings will be limited to fewer than 50 persons on the Pentagon Reservation. Other requirements will continue, including six-foot distancing and wearing masks for indoor gatherings regardless of vaccination status. These restrictions extend to all internal gatherings, including conference room meetings and ceremonial events.

The Pentagon food court and concession options will remain open, but there will be no indoor seating. COVID-19 parking permits have also been extended until Aug. 31.

While the Pentagon Athletic Center will continue to operate, reservations are required and a minimum occupancy rate of 255 people per every 2.5 hour session will be imposed. For every 2.5 hour session, the maximum occupancy rate of the Mark Center Gym and the Taylor/Polk Building Gym will be 21 and 15, respectively.

Related:

Northam Recommends Masks For Vaccinated In Public Indoor Settings