UNCLASSIFIED//
ROUTINE
R 241805Z NOV 21 MID600051218572U
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC
TO NAVADMIN
INFO SECNAV WASHINGTON DC
CNO WASHINGTON DC
BT
UNCLAS
NAVADMIN 268/21
MSGID/NAVADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/CNO/NOV//
SUBJ/REQUIRED COVID-19 TESTING FOR UNVACCINATED SERVICE MEMBERS//
REF/A/MEMO/USD/DOC/29OCT21//
REF/B/NAVADMIN/31AUG21
REF/C/MEMO/SD/24AUG21
REF/D/DOD/FMR VOL 10 CH 11
REF/E/NAVADMIN/02JUN21
REF/F/NAVADMIN/23AUG21
REF/G/DOC/19NOV21
REF/H/DOC/19NOV21
REF/I/SECNAVINST/20MAY2019
NARR/REF A IS USD P&R MEMO FORCE HEALTH PROTECTION (FHP) SUPPLEMENT 23
REVISION 2 DOD GUIDANCE FOR CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 VACCINATION
ATTESTATION, SCREENING, TESTING, AND VACCINATION VERIFICATION.
REF B IS NAVADMIN 190/21, 2021-2022 NAVY MANDATORY COVID-19 VACCINATION AND
REPORTING POLICY.
REF C IS SECDEF MEMO MANDATING CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 VACCINATION FOR DOD
SERVICE MEMBERS.
REF D IS DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT REGULATION, VOLUME 10,
CHAPTER 11, PAYMENT AS REIMBURSEMENT FOR PERSONAL EXPENDITURES.
REF E IS NAVADMIN 110/21, U.S. NAVY COVID-19 STANDING GUIDANCE UPDATE 1.
REF F IS NAVADMIN 180/21, UPDATE 3 TO NAVY COVID-19 REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
REF G IS DLA COVID-19 HOME TEST KITS ORDERING PROCEDURES.
REF H IS PPE MATERIAL STORED AT A DLA DEPOT ORDERING PROCEDURES.
REF I IS SECNAV INSTRUCTION 5211.5F, DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY PRIVACY PROGRAM.
POC/OPNAV/CAPT STEVEN TARR III, (703) 614-9250//EMAIL:
steven.tarr1.mil@us.navy.mil
RMKS/ 1. Purpose. This NAVADMIN implements the reference (a) requirement to
conduct screening testing of service members who have not been vaccinated
against the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
2. Applicability
2.a. This guidance applies to Active and Reserve Component service members
who have not been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in accordance with
references (a), (b), and (c), including those who have an exemption request
under review or who are exempted from COVID-19 vaccination and are entering
a Department of Defense (DoD) facility.
2.b. Guidance for testing unvaccinated government civilians and contractors
will be released separately. Until this guidance is issued, current guidance
per reference (a) applies and Commanding Officers and Officers in Charge
continue to be authorized broad discretion in applying additional measures
as they deem necessary, including applicable elements of this NAVADMIN.
3. Policy Guidance
3.a. Weekly testing. Reference (a) mandates that unvaccinated service
members will be subject to screening testing for COVID-19 at least weekly
when entering a DoD facility that includes the service members normal place
of work. This testing will commence for Navy service members when the
following two conditions have been met: (1) no earlier than the active-duty
vaccination deadline of 28 November 2021 or the reserve deadline of
28 December 2021, as applicable to the individuals component; and, (2) the
command has the required supplies to administer testing per this
NAVADMIN. For purposes of this NAVADMIN, facility is a Navy-administered
building, vessel, or other enclosed indoor area where official business is
conducted. For vessels, this guidance applies whether the vessel is underway
or in port. Additionally, the term work space includes all areas where
official business takes place, to exclude entry areas such as the Quarterdeck
where testing/screening may be conducted if necessary to avoid inclement
weather, security concerns, or other reasons that such screening cannot be
performed outdoors.
3.b. Exception for service members working remotely. Unvaccinated service
members who work remotely full time, or who perform duties in facilities or
work spaces periodically (less-than-weekly basis), are not subject to weekly
testing. However, prior to entering a Navy facility or work space, these
service members must provide a negative result from a test performed within
the preceding 72 hours per paragraph 4.
3.c. The testing requirements in paragraphs 3.a. and 3.b. apply to each
facility or work space entered. Meeting the requirements to enter one
facility or work space does not guarantee entry into any other facility or
work space without specific coordination and approval. See paragraph 4.e.
below. For example, if an unvaccinated service member assigned to command 1,
who meets command 1 weekly testing requirements, must attend a meeting
at command 2, that service member must also meet command 2 testing/entry
requirements on the day of entry, unless prior approval has been obtained
from command 2.
4. COVID-19 testing requirements and reporting for unvaccinated service
members.
4.a. Commanding Officers and Officers in Charge will execute the screening
testing requirement with COVID-19 self-collection kits or self-tests per
paragraph 3 above for all unvaccinated service members within their chain of
command, and any unvaccinated visiting service members entering their work
spaces.
4.b. Screening self-collection kits or self-tests do not require medical
support to complete or to document test results. Organizations and service
members must follow Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and manufacturer
guidelines for these tests.
4.c. When required, the screening test shall be administered and results
received before the service member proceeds to the facility work area.
4.d. Organizations should provide for on-site testing to the maximum extent
possible. See paragraph 6 for test ordering and budget guidance. However,
if on-site testing is not feasible, service members may perform self-testing
or provide the results from a public, community, or commercial testing
center. If the service member incurs costs, commands shall refer to
reference (d) for procedures to reimburse the service member. Tests
conducted in conjunction with diagnostic, travel, or other requirements meet
the intent of this NAVADMIN. All testing must meet the following
requirements:
4.d.(1) The test kit must be authorized or approved by the FDA.
This includes test kits listed as authorized by the FDA under an Emergency
Use Authorization (EUA).
4.d.(2) If not covered by the requirements of weekly testing in paragraph
3.a., the test must have been performed within the preceding 72 hours.
4.d.(3) The service member must retain documentation of the results of the
test and present it upon request of supervisors and facility entry control
personnel. Required information includes the service members name, the date
and time the test was conducted, the commercial trade name (brand name) of
the test, and the result (i.e., positive or negative). This documentation
may be electronic, printed, or a facsimile. Examples of acceptable
electronic documentation include text message, email, digital photo, online
health record, or a screenshot of any of the above. Reasonable verification
is all that is required, e.g. a screenshot of a self-test on a members phone
constitutes identification of the member and the date of the test.
4.e. Visits between organizations by unvaccinated service members should be
minimized. If these visits are necessary per their normal duties, testing
per this NAVADMIN may be coordinated across organizations and documented by
the service members parent command.
4.f. Exemption for previous COVID-19 infection. Per reference (e) and
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance, unvaccinated
service members who have recovered from a recent COVID-19 infection and who
remain asymptomatic are exempted from regular screening testing for 90 days
following their documented date of recovery from COVID-19 infection. Service
members must provide documentation from a medical provider that includes the
date they may return to work (no longer transmissible) and the date after
which screening testing should resume post COVID-19 infection (90 days post
COVID-19 infection).
4.g. Positive screening tests. Service members with a positive result
following COVID-19 screening tests shall immediately report to medical for a
confirmatory laboratory-based molecular polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test
from the nearest servicing Military Treatment Facility (MTF).
4.g.(1) If obtaining a confirmatory PCR test at an MTF is not feasible, such
diagnostic confirmatory PCR tests may be obtained from a civilian community
testing location at no cost to the service member (per paragraph 4.d above).
4.g.(2) Service members must provide results of confirmatory PCR testing to
their chain of command.
4.h. Positive Confirmatory PCR Test. Service members receiving a positive
confirmatory PCR test will be treated as a positive COVID-19 case and handled
in accordance with references (e) and (f). Service members awaiting test
results shall not be granted access to the facility work spaces until either
a negative result has been received or the service member has satisfied
return to work criteria in accordance with reference (e). Positive
confirmatory PCR test results will be reported and managed in accordance with
reference (f) and any other applicable national, state, local, or agency
reporting requirements.
4.i. Negative Screening or Confirmatory PCR Tests. Service members with no
COVID-19 symptoms who receive a negative screening or confirmatory test may
enter the facility work spaces. At the discretion of the Commanding Officer,
that service member may be credited with meeting the weekly testing
requirement.
5. Responsibilities. Commanders, Commanding Officers, and Officers in
Charge will:
5.a. Identify assigned service members (both Active and Reserve Component)
who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 using the Medical Readiness
Reporting System (MRRS), or as determined by the members medical provider if
not yet included in MRRS, as detailed in reference (b).
5.b. Ensure all service members entering the work spaces of their facility
meet one of these three requirements: (1) are fully vaccinated against COVID-
19 in accordance with reference (b), or (2) have received, and can provide
documentation of, a negative COVID-19 test (rapid test or PCR) administered
weekly or within the preceding 72 hours per paragraph 3 above, or (3) receive
a negative COVID-19 test provided on-site.
5.c. Deny entry to any service member who does not meet the requirements of
paragraph 5.b. above.
6. COVID-19 Test Ordering
6.a. Budget Submitting Offices (BSO) are responsible for funding test kits
using existing command funding; BSOs may utilize any appropriation available
for this purpose. BSOs and commands shall purchase and maintain on-site
testing resources sufficient to meet requirements of this NAVADMIN, including
normal traffic of known unvaccinated service members and any foreseeable
surge testing requirements (such as command-sponsored events or meetings held
on-site).
6.b. Commands should follow Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) ordering
procedures contained in references (g) and (h), or their current versions.
6.c. If advantageous to the government and with BSO approval, commands may
procure tests from non-DLA sources or contract testing services to complete
these requirements.
6.d. If sufficient facility or command testing resources are not available
to meet these requirements, service members may be reimbursed for procuring
test kits that meet paragraph 4.d.
restrictions above. BSOs and commands will follow guidance in accordance
with reference (d). BSOs shall promulgate information to commands under
their purview regarding specific reimbursement processes.
7. COVID-19 Test Recording
7.a. All medical and other information collected from service members will
be maintained in a manner meeting the privacy requirements in attachment (9)
of reference (a). Commands are encouraged to review this guidance, which
includes information regarding who can collect this information; how to
safeguard, transmit, and maintain this information; and which information
must be protected per reference (i).
7.b. Commands shall log all tests conducted on-site, and all instances of
service members providing valid proof of negative tests, in a visitor log
maintained at the facility or work spaces point of entry (i.e.,
quarterdeck). Note whether the test was conducted on-site. Do not log test
results (positive/negative) in this logbook.
7.c. Only tests conducted at an MTF should be recorded in the service
members Electronic Health Record.
8. Released by VADM W. R. Merz, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for
Operations, Plans, and Strategy, OPNAV N3/N5.//
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