The Pentagon will slowly reopen its facilities to more personnel under new precautions to combat the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic starting June 15, the department said June 11.
Following analysis of local conditions, DoD Chief Management Officer Lisa Hershman will move the Pentagon to “Phase 1” Monday morning, per a Thursday release. As more personnel are expected to return to their work spaces and additional entrances are reopened, multiple efforts to keep the coronavirus and other illnesses from spreading remain in place.
These will include: mandatory six-feet of distance wherever possible, including in office workspaces, and mandatory cloth masks when six-feet social distancing is not possible. Gatherings in the Pentagon are limited to 10 individuals. Individual organizations should continue to manage their workforce to ensure no more than 40 percent of their people are in work spaces, and keep 60 percent or more teleworking. Only “mission-essential personnel” should be returning to work spaces.
Officials are urging personnel to take their temperature before leaving for work in the morning and to stay home if exhibiting symptoms of illness. Random screenings of employees and contractors will occur at facility entrances, and all visitors will continue to be screened.