WEBVTT 00:13.310 --> 00:14.690 - We're back with another episode 00:14.690 --> 00:16.990 of a Conversation about COVID 00:16.990 --> 00:20.640 with our panel YPG Commander Colonel Patrick McFall. 00:20.640 --> 00:23.550 Command Sergeant Major Jamathon Nelson. 00:23.550 --> 00:26.340 Technical Director Larry Bracamonte. 00:26.340 --> 00:29.290 Deputy Garrison manager Ron James 00:29.290 --> 00:32.173 and Health Clinical IC Major Jennifer Fiandt. 00:33.080 --> 00:35.480 Colonel McFall, do you have any opening remarks? 00:36.410 --> 00:38.660 - Hello, my name is Colonel Patrick Mcfall. 00:38.660 --> 00:39.860 It's been an honor to take command 00:39.860 --> 00:41.394 in this great organization 00:41.394 --> 00:44.700 and I can't even speak highly how blessed I am. 00:44.700 --> 00:47.180 Thank you again for this opportunity. 00:47.180 --> 00:49.092 As we start off this discussion, 00:49.092 --> 00:51.090 I wanna start off with what everybody's on 00:51.090 --> 00:53.889 in front of everybody's mind is called COVID-19. 00:53.889 --> 00:56.160 We are in a COVID-19 environment. 00:56.160 --> 00:58.160 Isn't going to go away anytime soon. 00:58.160 --> 01:00.770 I'm sorry, I do not know the answer to that question. 01:00.770 --> 01:02.640 but it has to be part of our planning consideration. 01:02.640 --> 01:04.610 Most likely look at weather 01:04.610 --> 01:08.140 or terrain has to be as far as that factor, 01:08.140 --> 01:10.240 I'm asking each y'all to keep that in mind 01:10.240 --> 01:13.120 and think about that as we live our daily lives. 01:13.120 --> 01:15.433 We live a daily life of safety. 01:15.433 --> 01:19.600 COVID is one of those things that we must be safe. 01:19.600 --> 01:22.000 It is a responsibility of each individual 01:22.000 --> 01:23.740 to take it upon themselves, 01:23.740 --> 01:25.630 to make sure your ranger buddy, 01:25.630 --> 01:27.300 on your left and right flank 01:27.300 --> 01:31.470 are properly applying procedures set up by the CDC. 01:31.470 --> 01:34.350 It is our responsibility to stop, prevent 01:34.350 --> 01:36.040 the spread of this disease. 01:36.040 --> 01:37.920 As we look out through the future, 01:37.920 --> 01:40.656 what's coming upon us is labor day weekend. 01:40.656 --> 01:42.900 That was a four day weekend a lot of times 01:42.900 --> 01:45.460 where people plan to big events, 01:45.460 --> 01:48.525 they plan to celebrate the in the summer, 01:48.525 --> 01:50.950 transitioning to new seasons 01:50.950 --> 01:53.670 or whatever it may be that we choose to do. 01:53.670 --> 01:57.030 I asked that we pay attention to our surroundings. 01:57.030 --> 01:59.283 Please be cognizant of this timeframe. 02:00.180 --> 02:02.610 Do not lax in our standards. 02:02.610 --> 02:05.130 Be vigilant in what we do. 02:05.130 --> 02:06.810 Wear your mask. 02:06.810 --> 02:10.210 Try to maintain six feet social distancing. 02:10.210 --> 02:13.620 People are asking you to come to big cookout parties, 02:13.620 --> 02:15.250 be smart in what you think, 02:15.250 --> 02:17.680 whether you should or shouldn't. 02:17.680 --> 02:18.830 I'm asking each of us, 02:18.830 --> 02:22.230 to please think about our actions as we move forward. 02:22.230 --> 02:24.660 Especially in this environment. 02:24.660 --> 02:27.150 We are a national asset, 02:27.150 --> 02:29.310 department of defense is relying upon us 02:29.310 --> 02:33.690 to do our mission and we need you. 02:33.690 --> 02:35.690 We need all of you. 02:35.690 --> 02:40.070 Each of you, everyone are important to this mission. 02:40.070 --> 02:42.983 Further, when we look at the next month 02:42.983 --> 02:47.176 we have the PC, project coverage is coming upon us. 02:47.176 --> 02:51.240 We're gonna have a lot of people descending upon our house. 02:51.240 --> 02:52.973 And I say our house, 02:53.900 --> 02:55.460 we own this party. 02:55.460 --> 02:57.240 We own this terrain. 02:57.240 --> 03:01.150 We set the tone for when those people come into our house, 03:01.150 --> 03:02.223 what we expect, 03:02.223 --> 03:03.853 how they will operate. 03:05.010 --> 03:07.760 Wearing our mask sets a tone that says, 03:07.760 --> 03:09.772 this is our standard. 03:09.772 --> 03:11.943 We asked you please do this too. 03:12.895 --> 03:15.450 We have to set that tone 03:15.450 --> 03:18.760 to ensure we protect the environment 03:18.760 --> 03:22.030 for which project convergence will come up and come into. 03:22.030 --> 03:22.863 And we allow that 03:22.863 --> 03:26.070 and we set the tone with those people will know 03:26.070 --> 03:29.650 that this is important and this is the standard. 03:29.650 --> 03:32.900 Is upon each of us to do that event. 03:32.900 --> 03:33.740 Thank you. 03:33.740 --> 03:37.590 - Colonel McFall, How does YPGs workload compare 03:37.590 --> 03:40.180 to this time last year? 03:40.180 --> 03:42.420 And do you expect that our workload is going 03:42.420 --> 03:44.520 to continue as it is? 03:44.520 --> 03:46.290 - Well, I think what I heard was 03:46.290 --> 03:51.290 we are probably about 6% behind June from last year. 03:52.420 --> 03:53.610 Which if you think about that, 03:53.610 --> 03:54.490 it's really not too bad. 03:54.490 --> 03:56.600 Especially in this COVID environment. 03:56.600 --> 03:59.440 We have found innovative ways to do our mission, 03:59.440 --> 04:03.070 whether it's teleconference and people contractors, 04:03.070 --> 04:04.830 to see what we are doing, 04:04.830 --> 04:06.863 that is because of what you are doing. 04:07.910 --> 04:09.450 As we looked at into this year. 04:09.450 --> 04:11.298 And when project convergence 04:11.298 --> 04:15.830 we're probably close if not on part what we did last year. 04:15.830 --> 04:17.931 So yes, it may look like we're behind, 04:17.931 --> 04:21.140 but we're very close and should finish out the year 04:21.140 --> 04:23.560 like we were last year. 04:23.560 --> 04:26.736 - Colonel McFall, When will the folks who are teleworking 04:26.736 --> 04:31.130 be able to return to work on posts on a regular basis. 04:31.130 --> 04:32.820 - That is appalling to me right now 04:32.820 --> 04:34.693 is upon an individual supervisor. 04:35.950 --> 04:38.830 I leave it up to them to make that type decisions. 04:38.830 --> 04:39.720 The conditions of course, 04:39.720 --> 04:41.090 that must be set is that, you know, 04:41.090 --> 04:42.980 you have a safe environment. 04:42.980 --> 04:44.600 Can we bring everybody in? 04:44.600 --> 04:46.720 I'm not sure I'm gonna leave that up 04:46.720 --> 04:47.860 to the direct supervisor, 04:47.860 --> 04:49.463 make those types of decisions. 04:51.190 --> 04:53.880 You know, do you bring people in two days a week? 04:53.880 --> 04:55.830 Do you bring them in three days a week? 04:57.330 --> 05:00.970 Again we have to be safe how we do it, 05:00.970 --> 05:03.290 but I think if we do it smartly, 05:03.290 --> 05:06.323 we could bring people back on board. 05:07.270 --> 05:09.620 - Major Fiandt, how are COVID numbers looking 05:09.620 --> 05:11.678 in Yuma County right now? 05:11.678 --> 05:13.170 - So we're definitely seeing 05:13.170 --> 05:15.060 that things are getting a little better. 05:15.060 --> 05:17.990 We're seeing, depending on which metrics you're looking at, 05:17.990 --> 05:19.570 things are plateauing 05:19.570 --> 05:22.327 and daily case rates are actually on the decline. 05:22.327 --> 05:24.300 However COVID is still present 05:24.300 --> 05:26.450 in our community at very, very high levels. 05:26.450 --> 05:28.304 There's still just a lot of it out there. 05:28.304 --> 05:32.530 And the infection risk is still very high for people. 05:32.530 --> 05:34.500 So we really recommend that people continue 05:34.500 --> 05:36.900 to use all the stuff we've been talking about 05:36.900 --> 05:39.080 since the beginning of the pandemic. 05:39.080 --> 05:41.730 Using masks in public, social distancing, 05:41.730 --> 05:43.710 and good attention to hand hygiene. 05:43.710 --> 05:45.710 Any time you're out in the community. 05:45.710 --> 05:47.260 - [Mark] Is there any evidence that masks 05:47.260 --> 05:50.420 and social distancing are contributing 05:50.420 --> 05:53.063 to the decline in COVID cases we're seeing locally? 05:54.100 --> 05:55.870 - Yes, there's very good evidence. 05:55.870 --> 05:58.070 I think you can track the decline in our rates 05:58.070 --> 06:00.960 in this community directly to the increased compliance 06:00.960 --> 06:02.531 you saw with masking 06:02.531 --> 06:05.150 when the sort of the revised shutdown order came through 06:05.150 --> 06:06.380 a few weeks ago. 06:06.380 --> 06:09.430 - Major Fiandt there's been at least five deaths per day 06:09.430 --> 06:12.776 in Yuma County for the entirety of July. 06:12.776 --> 06:15.890 And that seems to persist even as 06:15.890 --> 06:18.290 overall COVID numbers are declining locally. 06:18.290 --> 06:19.766 Why is that? 06:19.766 --> 06:22.130 - Just that we know that death rates 06:22.130 --> 06:24.500 are definitely a lagging sort of indicator. 06:24.500 --> 06:27.680 Unfortunately if people pass away from this illness, 06:27.680 --> 06:29.905 it's after they've been sick for a long time. 06:29.905 --> 06:32.893 So that's just kind of what you can expect 06:32.893 --> 06:34.730 that that particular metric 06:34.730 --> 06:36.700 is always going to be a bit behind 06:36.700 --> 06:38.330 in terms of the case rates. 06:38.330 --> 06:41.060 So the fact that our daily case rates are on the decline 06:41.060 --> 06:42.070 is a positive sign. 06:42.070 --> 06:44.740 And hopefully those death rates will follow soon. 06:44.740 --> 06:47.160 - Mr. Bracamonte some folks have said 06:47.160 --> 06:48.830 that they had coworkers 06:48.830 --> 06:52.430 who tested positive for COVID-19, 06:52.430 --> 06:55.490 but they weren't notified by a trace team. 06:55.490 --> 06:57.241 Why is that? 06:57.241 --> 06:58.960 - Well, let me start out by saying 06:58.960 --> 07:01.820 that once we suspect that someone is positive, 07:01.820 --> 07:04.490 the trace team will go out and talk to the employee 07:04.490 --> 07:07.050 and also to the employee supervisor. 07:07.050 --> 07:09.760 And again we'll look at you know, 07:09.760 --> 07:11.868 where the employee has worked, 07:11.868 --> 07:16.546 who has he come into contact with and we go from there. 07:16.546 --> 07:19.520 So one of the things that we look at is, 07:19.520 --> 07:22.900 was is the employee employing proper PPE? 07:22.900 --> 07:24.810 Meaning masking up you know, 07:24.810 --> 07:26.970 obviously keeping six feet of social distance. 07:26.970 --> 07:29.140 And if the trace team determines 07:29.140 --> 07:30.637 that that didn't occur 07:30.637 --> 07:33.778 or there was close contact without mask 07:33.778 --> 07:35.910 then what we ended up doing 07:35.910 --> 07:38.690 is we ended up contacting those employees 07:38.690 --> 07:42.390 that the potential positive employee came into contact with, 07:42.390 --> 07:45.520 and then those employees for lack of a better word 07:45.520 --> 07:48.340 are usually quarantined like for 14 days. 07:48.340 --> 07:50.305 So if you don't get contacted, 07:50.305 --> 07:51.950 that pretty much means 07:51.950 --> 07:55.018 that the suspected positive employee 07:55.018 --> 07:57.010 was wearing this proper PPE 07:57.010 --> 07:58.610 when he was around you. 07:58.610 --> 08:01.753 And so again, I wanna stress the importance of PPE, 08:02.590 --> 08:03.630 you know, wearing your mask, 08:03.630 --> 08:06.020 keeping social distancing when you can, 08:06.020 --> 08:08.929 it does you know, stop the spread. 08:08.929 --> 08:12.210 We have seen it here at YPG time and time again, 08:12.210 --> 08:13.730 you know, we're a safe workforce. 08:13.730 --> 08:15.955 I believe, I truly believe that YPG 08:15.955 --> 08:18.600 is safer probably than the city of Yuma. 08:18.600 --> 08:20.590 And that's because of all the people out there 08:20.590 --> 08:22.090 that work really, really hard 08:22.090 --> 08:23.030 to make it happen. 08:23.030 --> 08:25.030 So I applaud everybody, 08:25.030 --> 08:28.150 please keep wearing your PPE because 08:28.150 --> 08:31.550 in the long run you're gonna keep everybody safe. 08:31.550 --> 08:33.100 to include your coworkers. 08:33.100 --> 08:36.720 - Mr. James let's talk about facilities like the gym 08:36.720 --> 08:38.800 and the auto skills center. 08:38.800 --> 08:40.890 And when they're going to reopen, 08:40.890 --> 08:42.450 we hear a lot from folks who say 08:42.450 --> 08:45.880 that those similar facilities at MCAS Yuma 08:45.880 --> 08:50.320 or at other army posts around the country are already open. 08:50.320 --> 08:51.563 Why aren't they here? 08:53.410 --> 08:56.240 - So the army guidance 08:56.240 --> 08:58.100 Came out in an op order 08:58.100 --> 09:01.240 and told us at which HPCON level 09:01.240 --> 09:03.210 you can open certain facilities. 09:03.210 --> 09:06.960 And so we're currently in HPCON Charlie. 09:06.960 --> 09:09.430 Other installations within the army are Bravo. 09:09.430 --> 09:11.560 They've moved over, we haven't yet. 09:11.560 --> 09:15.090 And then the air station of course is not army. 09:15.090 --> 09:16.960 Now there is DOD guidance 09:16.960 --> 09:19.220 and where secretary Esper gives guidance 09:19.220 --> 09:21.750 to commanders to think about the criteria 09:21.750 --> 09:24.850 before changing HP conditions. 09:24.850 --> 09:27.560 So for example, a 14 day decline, 09:27.560 --> 09:29.810 the ability to test the ability to treat 09:29.810 --> 09:31.360 those are the things local commanders 09:31.360 --> 09:35.000 have to think about before they change their HPCON. 09:35.000 --> 09:36.060 In other parts of the country, 09:36.060 --> 09:37.520 they've been able to change now, 09:37.520 --> 09:38.630 some are changing back, 09:38.630 --> 09:41.550 but they've been able to change the Bravo. 09:41.550 --> 09:46.410 So currently we're gonna look at things 09:46.410 --> 09:47.810 that involve readiness first. 09:47.810 --> 09:51.240 And so our Major we'll address that in a minute here. 09:51.240 --> 09:53.099 But as far as our other facilities 09:53.099 --> 09:58.099 we've got a medical team that is in a conference right now, 09:58.220 --> 10:00.160 and they're gonna walk the ground this week 10:00.160 --> 10:04.900 to look at things like the auto skills center, cactus, 10:04.900 --> 10:07.440 the pool, and give recommendations 10:07.440 --> 10:09.470 on what are safe practices and if, 10:09.470 --> 10:12.530 and when we can open those types of facilities. 10:12.530 --> 10:14.030 So we're working it, 10:14.030 --> 10:16.603 we have to do it as safely as possible. 10:16.603 --> 10:19.200 And that's kinda what we're up against. 10:19.200 --> 10:21.870 - Sergeant Major Nelson, if the gyms are going to be closed 10:21.870 --> 10:24.240 for some weeks to come, 10:24.240 --> 10:26.550 what can soldiers do to keep PTing. 10:26.550 --> 10:29.630 And what about the civilians like using the gym 10:29.630 --> 10:30.680 and the fitness room? 10:32.290 --> 10:34.973 - So I understand the concern with the gym here in Yuma 10:34.973 --> 10:36.880 because of the heat. 10:36.880 --> 10:38.460 You know, the gym is the place to go 10:38.460 --> 10:39.920 to get out of the heat and still be able 10:39.920 --> 10:41.550 to conduct PT. 10:41.550 --> 10:44.430 For soldiers many installations don't allow soldiers 10:44.430 --> 10:45.970 in the gym during PT hours. 10:45.970 --> 10:47.710 Yuma is a little bit different where we do. 10:47.710 --> 10:50.270 The good news is like mr. James said 10:50.270 --> 10:52.450 for soldiers and first responders, 10:52.450 --> 10:54.023 those that have a requirement, 10:55.470 --> 10:57.900 the gym will be open next week, all right? 10:57.900 --> 10:59.830 They're looking at it open it then. 10:59.830 --> 11:02.560 Going a little bit into greater detail as far as, 11:02.560 --> 11:04.890 you know, civilians using the gym, 11:04.890 --> 11:07.080 Once again, based on where we're at 11:07.080 --> 11:11.300 in our COVID environment in Arizona, 11:11.300 --> 11:12.930 we're not like other installations. 11:12.930 --> 11:15.860 You can't say, well, Fort Bragg's been open for weeks. 11:15.860 --> 11:17.503 That's great. 11:18.520 --> 11:19.670 Arizona's a little bit different. 11:19.670 --> 11:21.550 Our COVID cases, weren't going in the right way. 11:21.550 --> 11:22.650 They are now. 11:22.650 --> 11:23.610 And they're going the right way 11:23.610 --> 11:25.810 because things have been closed. 11:25.810 --> 11:28.420 And the people that live and work on YPG 11:28.420 --> 11:29.850 have been doing the right things. 11:29.850 --> 11:32.030 So as long as we continue doing the right things 11:32.030 --> 11:35.000 and we're wearing our mass we're social distancing, 11:35.000 --> 11:36.920 and we're being careful what we do on weekends 11:36.920 --> 11:39.310 and going into town only for necessities, 11:39.310 --> 11:41.450 it's been tough on everyone. 11:41.450 --> 11:43.230 You can still run outside in the morning, 11:43.230 --> 11:44.440 so you can still do PT. 11:44.440 --> 11:47.730 There's lots of things you can do through video 11:47.730 --> 11:49.800 or just working out by yourself. 11:49.800 --> 11:52.800 And then that's a good stress reliever too during COVID 11:52.800 --> 11:56.050 is you know, do exercise on your own. 11:56.050 --> 11:58.330 You don't need to go to the gym to exercise. 11:58.330 --> 12:01.410 The gym makes it easier, but hopefully we'll get there. 12:01.410 --> 12:02.610 And by doing the right things, 12:02.610 --> 12:04.210 and we're doing that. 12:04.210 --> 12:05.350 The numbers are going the right way. 12:05.350 --> 12:07.150 So hopefully like mr. James said, 12:07.150 --> 12:08.584 we have people looking at it, 12:08.584 --> 12:12.000 we'll begin to see things open up as we come out of this, 12:12.000 --> 12:14.910 as long as we continue to practice, 12:14.910 --> 12:17.040 our preventative measures with COVID, 12:17.040 --> 12:18.560 but absolutely get outside. 12:18.560 --> 12:20.600 I see lots of people. 12:20.600 --> 12:21.840 I live on post. 12:21.840 --> 12:23.510 So I see people walking in the evenings. 12:23.510 --> 12:25.260 I see people on the trails in the morning 12:25.260 --> 12:27.130 and that's the way to do it. 12:27.130 --> 12:29.610 You know, once it cools down, get outside. 12:29.610 --> 12:34.610 And that also it's not good just to sit inside, 12:34.780 --> 12:35.830 so get outside. 12:35.830 --> 12:37.650 And it's a huge stress reliever, 12:37.650 --> 12:40.910 to do some PT or just go for a walk with your family, 12:40.910 --> 12:42.910 but we'll get there Mark, 12:42.910 --> 12:45.990 it's slowly but surely the gym's close for a very long time. 12:45.990 --> 12:47.250 I understand that. 12:47.250 --> 12:50.190 And once we meet those triggers 12:50.190 --> 12:51.600 that allow us to do it. 12:51.600 --> 12:54.880 And a lot of times it's not the senior commander 12:54.880 --> 12:57.530 that can say we wanna open it today. 12:57.530 --> 12:59.320 Certain Gates have to be met 12:59.320 --> 13:01.549 and we're getting there finally in Arizona. 13:01.549 --> 13:04.160 - [Mark] Do you have any closing remarks Colonel? 13:04.160 --> 13:06.590 - So you've heard it from the team. 13:06.590 --> 13:10.030 Everybody's working for you the best that they can, 13:10.030 --> 13:11.233 and they understand, 13:12.270 --> 13:13.863 they understand where we are. 13:15.156 --> 13:17.480 And the ask them good questions. 13:17.480 --> 13:19.320 Hopefully we've addressed some of them. 13:19.320 --> 13:20.536 If we haven't, 13:20.536 --> 13:22.810 I think Mark will send out a note. 13:22.810 --> 13:23.870 We can address them again. 13:23.870 --> 13:25.450 If we need to, 13:25.450 --> 13:27.080 we're here for you. 13:27.080 --> 13:30.410 How can we serve you to make your job easier 13:30.410 --> 13:33.263 and to help you do what you need to do? 13:34.220 --> 13:36.260 You are important to our family. 13:36.260 --> 13:38.440 You are our work family, 13:38.440 --> 13:40.890 thank you for what you do every day. 13:40.890 --> 13:41.893 Truth and testing.