Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) continues to adjust along with the rest of the world in light of the COVID-19 virus. Services and changes to schedules went into effect this week. The following are bullet points based on a recent command brief presented by I Corps Commander Lt. Gen. Randy George, plus daily releases dispensed by various organizations on and off the base.

• JBLM CYS has suspended care at all Child Development Centers (CDCs) and School Aged Centers (SACs) for all regular patrons. Only Madigan Child Development Center and Lewis North School Age Center will operate -- they have been designated for mission essential care only. Units have contacted these designated personnel. CYS will receive this by-name list to ensure only mission essential personnel receive care at this time. If service members are designated mission essential, but not currently registered with CYS, they and their families will need to do so prior to utilizing care. Registration information can be found at jblm.armymwr.com/programs/cysreg.

For patrons whose care is suspended, refunds will not be processed for any payments made for March 15-30. Instead, family household accounts will be credited for use when CYS operations resume. CYS is unable to process the number of refunds at this time. This credit and your current CYS enrollment guarantees holding your slot for when CYS resumes normal operations.

Families whose care is suspended will retain their space when normal CYS operations resume.

Families who choose to withdraw their children will have to reapply for care via militarychildcare.com. If families choose to withdraw, the two-week withdrawal notification will be waived and fees will be refunded. Please note withdrawal means that a child no longer has care when normal CYS operations resume.

• All routine and non-urgent appointments at Madigan Hospital are postponed; rescheduling is underway according to Madigan's commander. Call the appointment line for recommendations if you have not already heard from the hospital -- the number is 800.404.4506.

• All fitness centers and movie theaters are closed.

• The drive-thru pharmacy window at Madigan will be open extended hours from 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., Monday-Friday, and 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturdays, for pick-up of completed (already filled) prescriptions. Although the drive-thru window will be open Saturday as previously mentioned, the Medical Mall and the outpatient pharmacy will be closed Saturday and Sunday and there will be no walk-in access. To protect Madigan's high-risk patients, it's okay at this time to have family members or friends pick up your prescription. Any family member or friend will need to bring a copy of the patient's DoD ID with them. Please be advised that peak times for the drive-thru are generally 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and between 4 and 6 p.m. Please use the drive-thru at other times if at all possible. Pharmacy intake will take place in the main pharmacy. Patients will then be asked to return during a specific window of time to the drive-thru to pick up those medications. This will reduce the number of people in the pharmacy waiting area at any given time, decreasing the risk and exposure of our patients. Use of the automated call-in refill system (Audiocare 253.968.2999) is strongly encouraged for refills. Other pharmacies on base are for those enrolled at those pharamcies.

• Space A travel sign-ups must be done via email. Send your request to eagle@us.af.mil.

• As of Monday, there were five known cases of COVID-19 at JBLM. One was hospitalized at that time. The other four were isolated in their homes, on or off base.

• The Commissary, AAFES, and vendors will be open until it is determined they need to be closed for medical reasons. The food courts on base are open, as well as other vendors including the cafe in the bowling center with changes in place -- seating is now spaced apart for example, and take-out is the prefered option.

• The libraries on base are open and they'll also be used to create more virtual capabilities. Stay tuned.

• Military and their families are restricted to a 50-mile radius for leave and daily life. To be safe, don't go further than Seattle to the north, Centralia to the south, Silverdale to the west and Greenwater or Issaquah to the east.

• There are no changes to ETS/retirement.

• The off-base medical clinics are open, and operating mostly as urgent care. 

• All JBLM chapel services, religious education events and auxiliary meetings are canceled through the end of March. The JBLM Main Chapel and McChord Chapel #1 will remain open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays for individual prayer and private worship. The Chaplain Family Life Center will also remain open and continue to see clients by appointment. If you have any questions, concerns, or ministry needs, please call the Religious Support Office 253.967.3718. The on-call duty chaplain is available after-hours for emergencies; call 253.967.0015, and unit chaplains remain available for their service members and family members.    

• All community centers are closed. Playgrounds are open; play at your own risk.

• All DeCA Commissaries nationwide, including both JBLM Commissaries, will begin 100 percent ID check of all patrons. The Visitor Policy (Veteran's Health Identification Card) is suspended until further notice. Beginning March 19, commissaries will discontinue Early Bird Hours until further notice.

• Bowl Arena Lanes, Sounders Lanes and the Warrior Zone are open for take-out orders only (no sit and eat service). Call Bowl Arena at 253.967.4661, Sounders at 253.982.5372 or the Warrior Zone at 253.477.5833.

• All military families may receive free and immediate screening and medical advice through the TRICARE Military Health System Nurse Advice Line at 1.800.TRICARE; press option 1.

• TRANSCOM reported that household goods will continue to flow as normal for those that already completed their PCS moves.