With outbreaks of COVID-19 in several places throughout the world, 8 Wing/CFB Trenton is taking measures to ensure continuity of operations, while ensuring that our members are not placed at undue risk. The members of 8 Wing remain poised, as always, to support any mission tasked to us by the Government of Canada. As the Royal Canadian Air Force’s Air Mobility hub, we are constantly tracking the global impact of the COVID-19 virus and taking measures to educate our members and mitigate the risk of exposure to COVID-19 thereby protecting our personnel, their families, neighbors and communities.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) recently ordered the activation of Operation LASER (pandemic response). To this end, 8 Wing Trenton is implementing measures to ensure three priorities:
- Maintain operations at the Wing;
- Preserve the health of our forces; and
- Maintain responsive support to civil authorities as part of the Government of Canada’s response.
The activation of this operation, effective 13 March 2020, will see a number of 8 Wing/CFB Trenton personnel telework and alternate shift timings for an initial period of three weeks, while continuing to maintain all of our core operations. In order to maintain air operations at 8 Wing, including search and rescue, only those personnel fulfilling core mandates that require physical presence on the base and those supporting our partner agencies as part of Task Force Paratus/Operation Globe (quarantine of returned Canadians) will do so.
We are continually reviewing the domestic and international situations. During this assessment, we employ all options that either eliminate or mitigate the risk to our personnel and their families while accomplishing our missions on behalf of the Government of Canada and our fellow Canadians. While we proudly continue key operations at home and abroad, we embrace prevention and good hygiene recognizing they are key to enabling our missions. I can assure you, all members of 8 Wing/CFB Trenton are following the same hygienic protocol all Canadian citizens are asked to:
- wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds;
- avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands;
- avoid close contact with people who are sick;
- cough or sneeze into sleeves and not hands; and
- stay home if sick to avoid spreading illness to others.
Should there be a need to isolate symptomatic members on base returning from missions, we have strict protocols in place to preserve the effectiveness of our capabilities and the confidence of our community.
While I know this is a time of increased uncertainty, know that we will continue to deliver on our mission to protect you, our fellow Canadians. Your support and confidence in the members of 8 Wing /CFB Trenton continues to be the inspiration of those who serve. It is our community strength and commitment which will enable us to overcome this challenge as it has all others previously. For those in search of an accurate and factual account of information regarding COVID-19, I encourage you to visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html
On behalf of all members of 8 Wing/CFB Trenton, thank you!
Col Ryan Deming, Commander, 8 Wing Trenton
