On November 20, 2020, RADM Carl Lahti, Commandant of Naval District Washington (NDW) introduced a more restrictive status for all six of his installations in the Washington, D.C. area.
The installations have since been on lockdown for almost 5 months!
The status of “HPCON-C” (Charlie) was changed due to Covid-19. This order affects Walter Reed Medical Center, the Navy Yard, and NAS Patuxent River, among others. It affects tens of thousands of military personnel, and not just Navy personnel, as there are service members from all branches at Walter Reed.
The HPCON-C status is NOT currently in place at any other facility in the Washington, D.C. geographic area, as the Pentagon and Army bases (Ft. Belvoir) are only at HPCON-B, a much less restrictive level.
Under HPCON-C the only places our servicemembers are allowed to go is: work (on base), a grocery store, or to a gas station, and attending religious services is specifically prohibited.
Here is the relevant section from the text of the order itself, regarding prohibited activities under HPCON-C:
5.A.7.B.1. (U) MAINTAIN A PHYSICAL DISTANCE OF AT LEAST SIX FEET FROM OTHERS WHEN YOU ARE IN CLOSE CONTACT FOR FIFTEEN (15) OR MORE MINUTES AND, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PRACTICAL, WEAR CLOTH FACE COVERINGS WHEN YOU ARE IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH OTHERS FOR FIFTEEN (15) OR MORE MINUTES AND ARE UNABLE TO MAINTAIN SIX FEET OF PHYSICAL DISTANCE.
5.A.7.B.2. (U) TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT POSSIBLE DO NOT GATHER IN GROUPS OF OVER 10 PEOPLE.
5.A.7.B.3. (U) LIMIT TRAVEL TO/FROM PLACE OF RESIDENCE/WORK WITH STOPS ONLY FOR ESSENTIAL BUSINESS (FOOD, MEDICAL, PHARMACY, GAS, AND CHILD CARE SERVICES).
5.A.7.B.4. (U) SERVICE MEMBERS ARE PROHIBITED FROM VISITING, PATRONIZING, OR ENGAGING IN THE FOLLOWING OFF-INSTALLATION SPECIFIC FACILITIES, SERVICES, OR ACTIVITIES. OBSERVE GUIDANCE PROVIDED BY REGIONAL AND INSTALLATION COMMANDERS REGARDING USE OF ON-INSTALLATION SERVICES.
5.A.7.B.4.A. (U) RECREATIONAL SWIMMING POOLS, GYMS, FITNESS FACILITIES, EXERCISE CLASSES, SAUNAS, SPAS, AND SALONS 5.A.7.B.4.B. (U) TATTOO/BODY ART/PIERCING PARLORS 5.A.7.B.4.C. (U) BARBER SHOPS, HAIR OR NAIL SALONS, AND MASSAGE PARLORS 5.A.7.B.4.D. (U) CINEMAS/THEATERS 5.A.7.B.4.E. (U) PARTICIPATION IN TEAM/ORGANIZED SPORTS 5.A.7.B.4.F. (U) DINE-IN RESTAURANTS (TAKE-OUT AUTHORIZED), BARS, NIGHT CLUBS, CASINOS, CONFERENCES, SPORTING EVENTS, CONCERTS, PUBLIC CELEBRATIONS, PARADES, PUBLIC BEACHES, AMUSEMENT PARKS OR OTHER EVENTS DESIGNED TO PROMOTE LARGE GATHERINGS, TO INCLUDE INDOOR RELIGIOUS SERVICES.
A reader of Gateway Pundit, who wants to stay anonymous, shared this story with us:
We are an active-duty Navy family here in DC. NDW has had Walter Reed, Annapolis, Navy Yard, NAS Patuxent, etc. all on lockdown since Nov 20th. The excuse on Nov 20th was Covid. However, none of our other military installations (Pentagon, Ft. Belvoir, etc.) have their servicemembers locked down like this.
No one is reporting this. This situation has dragged on for nearly 5 months with no end in sight. It has negatively impacted the mental health and well-being of our service members and is hurting all military families in the DC area. The biggest impact comes from the inability of those on active duty to attend Church, which is unconstitutional on its face.
Please, please help us. We are desperate!
If the press would report this outrageous encroach upon our active-duty members’ lives, maybe we could get some relief. Maybe if the press would REPORT ON THIS we could get it rescinded. Get RADM Lahti ON RECORD about why he is subjecting our men & women to this unnecessary restriction. Maybe the bad publicity will get them released!!
The current view today of the NDW website shows that they are still on HPCON-C status in yellow.
The same scenario is happening at Navy Region Mid-Atlantic in Virginia where it is still at HPCON-C status. Virginia is opening up but the bases are still lockdown.
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