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Fort Sill officials announced Wednesday that they will suspend guest attendance at graduation ceremonies until further notice to prevent any potential spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Although guests won't be allowed to attend, graduations themselves will continue, and select graduations will be livestreamed by Army online platforms, Fort Sill's official Facebook page and other websites. Authorities said units will publish schedules for livestreaming through normal communication channels.

Also effective March 16, no privately owned vehicle travel with family members will be allowed after the graduations, and graduates will only travel by government-issued ticket to their advanced individual training locations.

"We understand these changes disrupt the plans many people have made and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause," Fort Sill officials said in a news release. "This action is taken to ensure the health and welfare of Soldiers, family members, and the Lawton Fort Sill community."

Soldiers affected by the change will be authorized to call home to directly inform their families. After completing basic combat training and advanced individual training, soldiers will report directly to their follow-on assignments.

Authorities said guest access to those locations will be at the discretion of those commands. Fort Sill officials said they cannot speak on behalf of the commands of the locations those soldiers will be reporting to regarding their leave policies at this time.

Families have been encouraged to contact their soldiers after graduation for details.

"Fort Sill will continue to monitor the situation to decide when it is appropriate to resume guest attendance at ceremonies and family days," officials said. "We continue to work with our higher headquarters and the Army to monitor the COVID-19 situation."

There are no confirmed cases of the coronavirus at Fort Sill. Two cases have been confirmed in Oklahoma, with both patients being from the Tulsa area.

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