Sir,
Are you tracking that the Local Government (RLP) is restricting the ISDF to 12 members vs the original request of 25? Additionally, with the changes locally, these members will be required to provide (-) CV19 testing from a sample collected no earlier than 48 hours before their planned arrival in Germany. They are also required to register via the Digital Embarkation registration link provided via the RKI website.
Has there been any consideration in decreasing the participants for this exercise in light of the German restrictions with the High Incidence Risk area attendees? Our current guidance is that there are no Exceptions to the Quarantine/Testing policy now with all of the new changes this week unless you come from a Risk Area. Israel is now listed as a High Incidence Area as of 24 Jan.
Please see email traffic below from Mrs. Bedford, the protocol POC.
Respectfully,
TRACY T. DAVIS, Maj, USAF
86th AW COVID-19 OPT Lead
Ramstein AB, Germany
DSN/VOSIP 314-480-2966
Comm +49 (0)6371-47-2966
From: BEDFORD, SHARON L CIV USAF USAFE 86 AW/CCP <sharon.bedford.1@us.af.mil>
Sent: Wednesday, February 3, 2021 11:11 AM
To: 86 AW/COVID-19 OPT <86AW.COVID-19.OPT@us.af.mil>
Subject: FW: Entry into Germany / ROM rules / COVID mitigation measures
Good morning,
I wanted to see if you were tracking this visit. It came to our attention because there’s a DV and they will arrive via mil-air. It looks like they have “permission” to not ROM as long as they adhere to local COVID mitigation guidance. My question is, does that allow them exemption from GO#2? They want to get rental cars from an off base location. Additionally, our office will advise them about COVID testing and digital entry requirements since Israel is considered high incidence according to RKI unless that has changed in the last week.
Thanks for all the assistance your office has been providing with all the recent restriction changes.
V/r
Sharon
Sharon Bedford
Chief of Protocol
86th Airlift Wing
Ramstein AB, Germany
DSN: 314-480-5469
Comm: +49 (0)6371-47-5469
On Jan 31, 2021, at 18:21, LECLAIR, JOHN W JR Col USAF USAFE USAFE A3/A3F <john.leclair@us.af.mil> wrote:
Colleagues,
We’ve been informed by the German authorities that you will only be permitted to bring a total of 12 personnel into Germany. We also received permission from the local State of Rheinland Pfalz that your ROM requirements will be waived as long as you strictly adhere to the local COVID-mitigation guidance (I’ve attached an excerpt of the key info).
A few notes about the COVID mitigation measures/restrictions (please also read the attachment)
1. Please create official written documentation of the COVID-mitigation measures that you are taking prior to arriving (100% Vaccinated, 5-day Working ROM, etc.)
2. We will need to actively track our interactions to ensure effective contact tracing during the entire exercise
3. You must work exclusively on US Military facilities use US Military lodging facilities
4. Avoid contact with personnel not associated with the exercise
5. Travel separately (do not use public transportation once in Germany)
6. Wear a mask ; Note: Surgical, FFP2 or N95 masks are required to be worn in the BX, Shopette, Commissary, and other public areas on base; also, I am pretty sure that all exercise participants at the Warfare Center, JMSC-K, and ROB will all be wearing FFP2/N95-style masks
Regarding the max of 12 visitors:
Please understand that we engaged with the German authorities to allow for all 23 proposed travelers to enter, but they are remaining firm with 12 Israeli visitors max. Because this is a sensitive issue and to ensure it does not impact our enduring relationship with our German hosts, we ask that you please only bring a total of 12 personnel. It’s possible that if you show up with more personnel, you could all be sent home, and we do not want to cause any incidents. It’s important to understand that the Germans are making a significant exception to their policies to enable your participation in the exercise. So, we need to accept their restrictions or risk losing all participation. We can still make this an effective exercise with 12 Israeli personnel here in Germany. Based on this info, we’d be interested in which 12 personnel you will bring, so we can inform your counterparts.
Thank you for your understanding and patience with this. Stay Well!
Respectfully,
Col LeClair
JOHN W. LECLAIR, JR., Colonel, USAF
DSN 314-478-1730 / Commercial +49 6371-405-1730
VOSIP: 304-478-5243
NIPR: John.leclair@us.af.mil