We have truly entered an unpresented time of dispersed activity and physical distancing in an effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. This brings with it a measure of stress combined with fear and anxiety for all. What I would like to tell you is that the health, safety and wellness of the Defence Team remains our priority. Protecting our members from disease and illness is of utmost importance to the Base Chief Warrant Officer and myself. We are making every effort to minimize risks to our military and civilian personnel, while at the same time maintain our operational effectiveness and readiness as a Force. We have reduced our level of activity to only essential core activities and until further notice, closed the Base to visitors. Only military members, public servants and contractors who are physically required to be on Base to conduct critical tasks should be present. The rest of us should be working from home keeping safe, healthy and ready to respond to whatever crisis we may be called upon to assist.
For those of us working on the Base during these unprecedented times, enhanced force health protection and physical distancing measures are in effect in order to keep the personnel who are working on Base safe and healthy. As Base Commander, I take our responsibility to enforce force health protection measures for our personnel seriously, and I am committed to doing so in order to maintain operational effectiveness and preserve our capacity to carry out core missions in support of the Government of Canada.
For those of us who are working at home I would like to remind you that is by doing you part to social distance yourself, employ diligent hand hygiene, and exercising patience that we will eventually defeat the COVID-19 pandemic. For the latest information and resources on the COVID-19 crisis, the Defence Team is recommended to consult https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/campaigns/covid-19.html
For community information and resources, visit
https://www.kflaph.ca/en/healthy-living/novel-coronavirus.aspx
We must be prepared for the long haul while at the same time be ready to answer the call by Canada when it comes. We are all in this together, just two meters apart.
Stay safe, stay fit, stay ready.
Colonel K.A. Gallinger
