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Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Military bases upgrade posture

Dale Denwalt
by Dale Denwalt
Published: Sat, March 14, 2020 1:04 AM Updated: Sat, March 14, 2020 1:23 AM

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The Fort Sill Army base in Lawton, where new soldiers attend basic and artillery training, will limit public access amid threats of the new coronavirus.

Beginning Monday, March 16, Fort Sill will suspend guest attendance at graduation ceremonies until further notice to prevent any potential spread of COVID-19. Graduations will continue, however, and some events will be streamed online.

Base leadership also announced that graduates cannot travel by personal vehicle with their family after ceremonies. Only travel by government-issued ticket will be allowed.

As of Friday, the only known case of COVID-19 at an Oklahoma base was at Altus Air Force Base, where an airman received a presumptive positive test result. Base commander Col. Matthew Leard said the airman had limited contact with the community after returning from leave in Seattle.

The airman only visited with medical personnel after arriving on base and remains in isolation with family. Leard said that because the airman did not initially acknowledge flu-like symptoms, the first medical technician the airman came in contact with did not take appropriate precautions.

That individual is now quarantined and will remain there until cleared of symptoms.

"If we're going to have a case, this one in a lot of ways is the best case scenario," Leard said. "Right now we're postured across the installation, the family is postured, everybody who's made contact with that person is postured."

Base leadership in Altus has responded to the coronavirus threat by upgrading its Health Protection Condition and by reducing personal contact at the entrance gate to prevent transmission opportunities.

The Health Protection Condition, or HPCON, at Altus is now at level Bravo. At that level, the Department of Defense urges personnel to avoid shaking hands, to sanitize common items and if exposed, self-isolate.

Vance Air Force Base in Enid upgraded its HPCON level to Alpha, which introduces limited protection measures to avoid and prepare for the virus. A spokesperson said leadership is evaluating whether to cancel or limit attendance at a graduation there in two weeks.

Officials at Tinker Air Force Base issued a statement with general information from the Pentagon and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. On Wednesday, Defense Secretary Mark Esper restricted travel for military personnel through areas heavily affected by the virus.

Related Photos
<strong>Members of the 35th Combat Communications Squadron board a C-17 at Tinker Air Force Base in this file photo. [BRYAN TERRY/OKLAHOMAN FILE]</strong>

Members of the 35th Combat Communications Squadron board a C-17 at Tinker Air Force Base in this file photo. [BRYAN TERRY/OKLAHOMAN FILE]

U.S. military bases can raise their level of preparedness based on the Department of Defense's Health Protection Condition level, as seen here. [ILLUSTRATION PROVIDED]
Contestants line up before the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]
#4
Clay Smith of Broken Bow, Okla., competes in the tie-down roping event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Thursday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]
Paul D. Tierney of Oklahoma City competes in the tie-down roping event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Thursday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]
Jess Tierney of Hermosa, South Dakota, competes in the tie-down roping event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]
+13+16Kyle Lockett of Visalia, California, competes in the tie-down roping event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]
<figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-8199897894cad1a1582700f388dadd58.jpg" alt="Photo - Members of the 35th Combat Communications Squadron board a C-17 at Tinker Air Force Base in this file photo. [BRYAN TERRY/OKLAHOMAN FILE] " title=" Members of the 35th Combat Communications Squadron board a C-17 at Tinker Air Force Base in this file photo. [BRYAN TERRY/OKLAHOMAN FILE] "><figcaption> Members of the 35th Combat Communications Squadron board a C-17 at Tinker Air Force Base in this file photo. [BRYAN TERRY/OKLAHOMAN FILE] </figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-6111ed905c01337bc54db7aa1381140d.jpg" alt="Photo - U.S. military bases can raise their level of preparedness based on the Department of Defense's Health Protection Condition level, as seen here. [ILLUSTRATION PROVIDED] " title=" U.S. military bases can raise their level of preparedness based on the Department of Defense's Health Protection Condition level, as seen here. [ILLUSTRATION PROVIDED] "><figcaption> U.S. military bases can raise their level of preparedness based on the Department of Defense's Health Protection Condition level, as seen here. [ILLUSTRATION PROVIDED] </figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-7980382f9be763f01e04585001740ddd.jpg" alt="Photo - Contestants line up before the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman] " title="Contestants line up before the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman] "><figcaption>Contestants line up before the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman] </figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-af44f98b5e5e8f1cf629522d049bb7a4.jpg" alt="Photo - #4" title="#4"><figcaption>#4</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-3183cce61377f367474153ff19aba573.jpg" alt="Photo - Clay Smith of Broken Bow, Okla., competes in the tie-down roping event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Thursday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]" title="Clay Smith of Broken Bow, Okla., competes in the tie-down roping event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Thursday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]"><figcaption>Clay Smith of Broken Bow, Okla., competes in the tie-down roping event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Thursday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-4a8cf0a01e6c0388155390e0506f11d5.jpg" alt="Photo - Paul D. Tierney of Oklahoma City competes in the tie-down roping event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Thursday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]" title="Paul D. Tierney of Oklahoma City competes in the tie-down roping event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Thursday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]"><figcaption>Paul D. Tierney of Oklahoma City competes in the tie-down roping event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Thursday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-58cbcac63def4276f463aa6ccde48e13.jpg" alt="Photo - Jess Tierney of Hermosa, South Dakota, competes in the tie-down roping event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]" title="Jess Tierney of Hermosa, South Dakota, competes in the tie-down roping event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]"><figcaption>Jess Tierney of Hermosa, South Dakota, competes in the tie-down roping event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-d9704f8e4d2e6eede431f6feb87f5f14.jpg" alt="Photo - Kyle Lockett of Visalia, California, competes in the tie-down roping event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]" title="Kyle Lockett of Visalia, California, competes in the tie-down roping event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]"><figcaption>Kyle Lockett of Visalia, California, competes in the tie-down roping event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-6c54c8bafc4216549a5cd4b862a476eb.jpg" alt="Photo - Clayton Hass of Weatherford, Texas, competes in the tie-down roping event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]" title="Clayton Hass of Weatherford, Texas, competes in the tie-down roping event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]"><figcaption>Clayton Hass of Weatherford, Texas, competes in the tie-down roping event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-17a7add56a2da799713667c5a1b74713.jpg" alt="Photo - Lane S Karney of Creston, California, competes in the heading event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]" title="Lane S Karney of Creston, California, competes in the heading event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]"><figcaption>Lane S Karney of Creston, California, competes in the heading event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-6da3a906d75c2a6a43bfa52c32f26312.jpg" alt="Photo - Paul D. Tierney of Oklahoma City competes in the heading event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]" title="Paul D. Tierney of Oklahoma City competes in the heading event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]"><figcaption>Paul D. Tierney of Oklahoma City competes in the heading event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-efc71c67dc4a2f55ea1b8607d7203edd.jpg" alt="Photo - Jace Melvin of Ft. Pierre, South Dakota, competes in the tie-down roping event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]" title="Jace Melvin of Ft. Pierre, South Dakota, competes in the tie-down roping event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]"><figcaption>Jace Melvin of Ft. Pierre, South Dakota, competes in the tie-down roping event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-6d6f0c0ee58391c7d944622867d77723.jpg" alt="Photo - Jordan Ketscher of Squaw Valley, California, competes in the heading event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]" title="Jordan Ketscher of Squaw Valley, California, competes in the heading event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]"><figcaption>Jordan Ketscher of Squaw Valley, California, competes in the heading event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-18bd9aa8bb5895c16ae34b5deadc936c.jpg" alt="Photo - Marcus Theriot of Poplarville, Mississippi, competes in the heading event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]" title="Marcus Theriot of Poplarville, Mississippi, competes in the heading event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]"><figcaption>Marcus Theriot of Poplarville, Mississippi, competes in the heading event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-51aabf77e9b604863ef528babc9047d7.jpg" alt="Photo - Coby Doescher of Webbers Falls, Okla., competes in the heading event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]" title="Coby Doescher of Webbers Falls, Okla., competes in the heading event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]"><figcaption>Coby Doescher of Webbers Falls, Okla., competes in the heading event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-48bb60ff9d88a5d28dedacbb3d2180cf.jpg" alt="Photo - Clayton Hass of Weatherford, Texas, competes in the heading event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]" title="Clayton Hass of Weatherford, Texas, competes in the heading event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]"><figcaption>Clayton Hass of Weatherford, Texas, competes in the heading event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-1ca3b42925d457885bf55fe24be48796.jpg" alt="Photo - Haven Meged of Miles City, Montana, competes in the heading event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]" title="Haven Meged of Miles City, Montana, competes in the heading event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]"><figcaption>Haven Meged of Miles City, Montana, competes in the heading event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-88adfa0e046efdf6705d7ca5ab0809fd.jpg" alt="Photo - Contestants line up before the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]" title="Contestants line up before the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]"><figcaption>Contestants line up before the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-3f34dcef304bad54dcc8cb8193de8910.jpg" alt="Photo - Roger Nonella of Klamath Falls, Oregon, competes in the heading event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]" title="Roger Nonella of Klamath Falls, Oregon, competes in the heading event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]"><figcaption>Roger Nonella of Klamath Falls, Oregon, competes in the heading event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-7c813603a07674a878c1886502fc4203.jpg" alt="Photo - KC Jones of Burlington, Wyoming, competes in the tie-down roping event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]" title="KC Jones of Burlington, Wyoming, competes in the tie-down roping event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]"><figcaption>KC Jones of Burlington, Wyoming, competes in the tie-down roping event during the Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., Friday, March 13, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]</figcaption></figure>
Dale Denwalt

Dale Denwalt has closely followed state policy and politics since his first internship as an Oklahoma Capitol reporter in 2006. He graduated from Northeastern State University in his hometown of Tahlequah. Denwalt worked as a news reporter in... Read more ›

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