CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Effective Monday, Aug. 1, Marine Corps Installations East will transition to Health Protection Condition Bravo (HPCON B). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has classified Onslow and Craven Counties in North Carolina as high community transmission level for the COVID-19 virus, Dougherty County in Georgia as high community transmission level, Duval County in Florida as high community transmission level and Beaufort County in South Carolina as high community transmission level.
Although this COVID variant is not imposing the significant strain on medical capacity that past variants have, it is highly contagious, and continues to spread at a concerning rate. Symptoms associated with this new strain include: fatigue, muscle ache, severe sore throat, and persistent cough. A majority of cases seem to have no fever (only 25%), but do have the potential for possible increase in the loss of smell. All personnel, units and activities are reminded to observe the Individual and unit level protective measures that have proven effective in slowing the spread and mitigating its worse potential effects. All personnel should:
- Stay at home if you are sick.
- Seek early COVID testing if you have symptoms.
- Adhere to established DoD isolation and quarantine protocols.
- Vaccines and boosters remain available at Naval medical facilities and at drug stores within local communities.
- Increase distancing between personnel when indoors.
- All personnel, especially high-risk individuals, are strongly encouraged to wear masks in indoor and close congregate settings.
- Mask wear is required in all medical and dental facilities.
All hands adherence to the above protective measures will help mitigate the spread of the virus. Continued case transmission could potentially lead to degraded services and medical capacity, and may necessitate more deliberate mitigation protocols.