Robins Air Force Base returning to full capacity as coronavirus restrictions ease

Robins Air Force Base is returning to full capacity in stages and starting to gradually reopen services shuttered due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“As we move into the next phase of this pandemic and as local and state leaders continue to ease restrictions, the base will continue to ease restrictions as well,” Col. Brian Moore, 78th Air Base Wing commander, announced via Facebook on Thursday.

“In fact, we’re already in that process, and we will start in a phased approach beginning Monday,” he said.

The base will begin recalling high-risk personnel on weather and safety leave due to COVID-19, Moore said.

“As we do that, it’s imperative that we do it in the most safe manner and that we all remain focused on protecting the most vulnerable,” he said.

Building on guidance from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, everyone on base needs to assume a “culture of compliance.” Dozens of RAFB personnel have tested positive for COVID-19 over the past two months.

That means social distancing, cleaning and sanitation, and wearing masks when social distancing can’t be accomplished, Moore said.

“These are all going to become part of our culture that we all have to embrace and take on the mantle of holding each other accountable to ensure we’re protecting each other,” Moore said. “This is kind of the new normal and it requires all of us to be all-in and quickly get on board as we transition back to work.”

Monday, supervisors will be the first to be brought back, he said.

“We’re going to start this with supervisors, and we’re going to make sure that supervisors understand these requirements and then supervisors will pass that on to the shops to make sure that everybody is tracking on how specific shops and organizations need to perform their functions,” Moore said. “As we transition back, we’ll then move to the support personnel and then we would expect by the end of the month that we would have the rest of weather and safety leave personnel back and functioning as part the whole mission effective team.”

Also, remote working is still encouraged, with commanders and supervisors to look at where it’s most effective by position, Moore said.

“Telework has been a great opportunity and ingenuity over the last six weeks that I don’t think any of us expected, but will become, and is part of, the new normal and highly effective,” he said.

Additionally, the base will reopen the gym for active-duty, guard and reserve on Friday, with civilians to be welcomed back to the gym in the next phase.

The base also is reopening the golf-course and outdoor recreation facilities Friday.

This story was originally published May 8, 2020 at 8:00 AM.