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Commander announces Phase 2A RtFC transition timing

  • Published
  • By Chuck Paone
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs

HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- Hanscom Air Force Base has announced that it plans to move into Phase 2A, also known as the “Cautious phase,” of its multiphase Return to Full Capacity June 22.

As stated in the May 29 release announcing implementation of the phased return plan, entering this new phase will allow more employees – though by no means all – to return to work on base. Employees who have been successfully teleworking should for the most part continue to do so, and no employee should return to work on the installation prior to being formally notified by a supervisor.

The installation will also bring more of its facilities and services back on line, consistent with state and federal guidelines and to the extent base public health specialists believe is safe. A complete list of what facilities and services will be available in Phase 2A, and other phases, can be found on Hanscom’s coronavirus webpage, www.hanscom.af.mil/coronavirus.

In some cases, officials are still working through numerous considerations regarding the conditions of a facility’s reopening, including who and how many people will be permitted to use it in Phase 2A. This includes the Child Development Center and the School Age program among others. However additional information will be forthcoming soon.

Installation Commander Col. Chad Ellsworth decided to move Hanscom AFB into Phase 2A on June 22 based on a number of factors, including the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ plan to move into its Phase 2 (Cautious Phase) this week. The base is following a trailing approach that generally restores facilities and services only after state phase transitions have permitted those things to occur, and with some period of time added to evaluate any effects of those changes.

“As Massachusetts begins to reestablish services, we will continue to monitor local and state public health trends in order to make the wisest decisions possible for base workers and residents,” Ellsworth said.

Massachusetts has shown a downward trajectory in terms of new cases and hospitalizations. If these trends persist, the state may further ease restrictions and enter their next phase after a minimum of three weeks, at which point Hanscom would likely consider a transition into its next phase. 

At this time, though, the base commander wants people to know that their efforts have helped keep Hanscom safe during the crisis and enabled the impending phase transition.

“I want to personally thank you for your vigilance, adherence to social distancing, and maintenance of health protocols, as we cautiously return Hanscom to full capacity,” Ellsworth wrote in a message to the Hanscom community this morning.

All additional changes will be updated on the base webpage cited above.