{"id":61231,"date":"2020-11-02T19:37:15","date_gmt":"2020-11-02T19:37:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/11\/02\/pentagon-announces-random-rapid-covid-19-testing-for-patriot-express-flights\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T10:28:39","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T10:28:39","slug":"pentagon-announces-random-rapid-covid-19-testing-for-patriot-express-flights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2020\/11\/02\/pentagon-announces-random-rapid-covid-19-testing-for-patriot-express-flights\/","title":{"rendered":"Pentagon announces random, rapid COVID-19 testing for Patriot Express flights"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Service members flying overseas on official duty via Patriot Express flights<\/a> from Baltimore\/Washington International Airport and Seattle-Tacoma Airport may be subjected to random <\/b>rapid, on-site COVID-19 testing, the Department of Defense announced Nov. 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although all passengers flying on Patriot Express flights are screened for symptoms of COVID-19 and complete a pre-travel questionnaire and temperature check, now approximately 10-15 percent of passengers who don\u2019t exhibit any symptoms will also be randomly tested for COVID-19 using a rapid, on-site laboratory test that can provide results within 15 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBy implementing rapid, on-site testing for Patriot Express passengers at our BWI and SEATAC terminals, Air Mobility Command is establishing a common baseline across the services to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19,\u201d Brig. Gen. Norman West, Air Mobility Command Surgeon General, said in a news release. \u201cThrough our Total Force team, AMC is committed to doing everything in our power to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 among our Patriot Express passengers traveling to overseas locations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This policy, which took effect Sunday, excludes family members who may be traveling, those with a valid COVID-19 test that was taken within 72 hours of the flight, and Army personnel who have received an authorized medical clearance letter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the event a Patriot Express passenger tests positive, the individual will either be referred to a medical facility to receive appropriate treatment or will be placed in isolation \u2014 depending on how severe the illness symptoms are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those traveling independently will be subjected to a 10-day isolation period, while those with dependents will undergo a 14-day quarantine period. Individuals from Baltimore will receive attention from personnel at Dover Air Force Base while those from Seattle will receive similar assistance from personnel at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.<\/p>\n\n\n\t