Scott Air Force Base working diligently to prevent the spread of COVID-19

Below is general information and some FAQs regarding the coronavirus pandemic and Scott Air Force Base. For a full list of the FAQ’s, visit https://www.scott.af.mil/coronavirus/.

Also, here is a link to a Q and A session with Col. Joseph Meyer, 375th Air Mobility Wing vice commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Leon Calloway: https://www.facebook.com/ScottAirForceBase/videos.

A note from Meyer

On March 20, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker enacted a stay-at-home order for the State of Illinois. Basically, all non-essential activities will be shut down across the state and essential activities are listed in the Governor’s Executive Order.

You will still be able to do those things essential to your basic needs. All local roads, including the interstate highways and tollways, will remain open to traffic. As far as duty status is concerned, we still have a global mission to accomplish. Unless directed otherwise through your chain of command, there is no change to your duty status.

That said, personnel who are sick should stay home and call your provider. If you experience symptoms such as moderate-to-severe difficulty breathing, severe chest pain, high fever or inability to hold down fluids, notify your primary care manager and seek care immediately. Your compliance with the Governor’s order during your off-duty time will help to stem the spread of COVID-19.

For the latest information on COVID-19, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus, and the Department of Defense Coronavirus website at www.defense.gove/explore/spotlight/coronavirus. For more information about Scott specific measures and information, please visit www.scott.af.mil/coronavirus.

Is the pharmacy still open?

As of March 20, the Scott AFB Clinic Pharmacy is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the following guidelines:

• To minimize lobby occupancy and exposure, all patients without an appointment in the Medical Group will be required to call the pharmacy or use TRICARE online to activate their prescriptions.
• Paper prescriptions may be left in the drop box outside the facility for next day pickup.
• Patients should call 618-256-7345, Options 2, 1, 2 to reach the pharmacy, and TRICARE online instructions are below.
• Call-in refills are still available for pick up at the Satellite Pharmacy.

Additionally, patients may also set up their prescriptions with Express Scripts for home delivery.

Is the Scott AFB Clinic open?

In response to the Governor’s Stop Movement/Shelter In Place order, the Medical Clinic will restrict routine care. If you have an existing routine appointment, the Clinic will be reaching out to you with instructions regarding rescheduling

As of March 18, the clinic is open. However, for your safety and safety of others, the 375th Medical Group is limiting the amount of traffic within the clinic.

You may be asked to attend your appointment virtually.

If you think you no longer require your appointment, please call the appointment line at 618-256-9355.

Please continue to follow strict hand hygiene, do not shake hands with others, and practice social distancing.

If you become symptomatic, remain at home and contact your Provider Team via Secure Messaging or call the Nurse Advice Line at 800-TRICARE (874-2273), option 1.

Is the 375th MDG Mental Health Clinic open?

Yes. In an effort to balance routine care with patient safety, the Mental Health Clinic will be providing most services via telephone. If you have a scheduled appointment with the Mental Health, ADAPT or Family Advocacy Clinics, most appointments will not be changed and a Mental Health Provider will contact you on your primary home phone number, listed in your medical record.

For all appointments that require an in-person visit, or for specialty evaluations that are currently not being offered, the Mental Health Staff will contact you to discuss those details. This will be in effect until further notice.

If you need to change your primary contact phone number or have any additional questions please contact the Mental Health front desk at 618-256-7386. The Mental Health Flight is committed to continue providing all Active Duty Members with the highest quality care we can in these difficult times.

Here is a link to various coronavirus protocols: Tips For Social Distancing, Quarantine, And Isolation During An Infectious Disease Outbreak

How will this affect ID checking at the gate?

Starting March 17, our Defenders moved to hands-free ID checking. As you arrive at our installation gates and visitor centers, please follow these three steps: 1.) Reach out and display your ID with the barcode side up so it can be scanned. 2.) When prompted, flip over the card with an unobstructed view of the front side. 3.) Please do not proceed through the gate until directed to do so by the Defender. We also recommend that you allow for additional travel time.

How will this situation affect gate hours?

As of March 20, the main Shiloh gate and the Belleville gate hours are unaffected. However, the school gate will remain closed until Scott Elementary reopens, and the Cardinal Creek gate closed beginning March 17. The visitor center moved to new hours (6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed on weekends).

How will this affect base access?

As of March 20, there are no additional restrictions on who has base access or who can obtain a visitor’s pass, but it is highly discouraged to bring non-mission critical personnel on base. For the most current information, you can call the visitor center at 618-256-2008. The visitor center will move to new hours (6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed on weekends).

How will the Child Development Center and Youth Center be affected?

The CDC and School Age Program will continue to operate for currently enrolled children whose parents are identified as mission critical and are physically required to be present at work (not teleworking), Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. New enrollments and hourly care will not be accepted.

Open recreation, youth sports, instructional classes and teen/preteen operations are suspended until further notice.

Family Child Care homes will continue to operate as identified in parent agreements. Please contact your FCC provider for information specific to each home. If you know of anyone who lives in base/privatized housing who would like to become licensed to provide care in their home, please contact the FCC office at 618-256-8047.

How will this affect food establishments on base?

Food operations will continue on a to-go basis only. The Nightingale Inn Dining Facility will only be open to all eligible patrons, and it will be to-go only. Other food establishments will be open to all patrons on a to-go status. The Scott Event Center, Cardinal Creek Snack Bar, and Joe’s Asian are closed.

Common Grounds was moved to new hours (6 a.m. to 1 p.m.) beginning March 23. The Stars and Strikes Bowling Alley will be closed to bowling services but will continue to serve food to-go. For full listing see the consolidated services list.

How will the Scott AFB Commissary and Base Exchange be affected?

The Scott AFB BX will be open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Please see the consolidated base service list on our webpage and Facebook for detailed information on additional BX services hours. The commissary will be open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. They will halt “early bird” shopping hours to allow more time for cleaning and re-stocking.

Additionally, in an effort to protect high risk patrons (>65 years old) who are more at risk to COVID-19, the commissary will have high risk patron designated hours from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays. During these hours, the store will be closed for non-high risk (<65 years old) patrons.

The commissary is also conducting 100% I.D. card checks at the entrance of the store and revoked the visitor policy to reduce the number of people in stores and help with social distancing, crowd control, etc.

Due to increased demand for some items, the facilities are limiting purchases of the following:

Items limited to one per ID card holder:

• Masks
• Hand sanitizers
• Disposable gloves
• Disposable face masks
• Rubbing alcohol
• Thermometers
• Disinfectant wipes
• Disinfectant cleaners and sprays
• Paper towels
• Bleach
• Toilet paper

Items limited to two per ID card holder:

• Multi-pack water

How will the Base Library be affected?

The Base Library is closed until further notice.

Will the base fitness centers be closing?

The base fitness centers will be closed until further notice while they undergo deep cleaning, including 24/7 access and the fitness assessment cell.

Will this affect Security Forces hours?

The 375th Security Forces Squadron has temporarily stopped the issuing of restricted area badges. PIN resets will be available Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

How does this affect the Air Show and other community relations events?

The Department of the Air Force is suspending public outreach activities and support to community events both CONUS and OCONUS (as covered in AFI 35-105) through May 15.

His suspension includes, but is not limited to, on-base and civilian-sponsored airshows, band performances and community engagements and meetings which involve large gatherings (speaking engagements, community meetings on installations, base tours, Pentagon visits, etc.).

As of now, the Air Show is still scheduled for May 30-31. We will continue to monitor the situation and make adjustments as needed.

Additional info

If you have any other questions, please contact your supervisor.

For more information about COVID-19, visit https://www.af.mil/News/Coronavirus-Disease-2019/

Updates specific to FSS program impacts and hours of operation can also be found at www.375FSS.com.