CANFORGEN 020/20 VCDS 001/20 030737Z FEB 20 TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS FOR CAF MBRS - CORONA VIRUS UNCLASSIFIED

AS YOU WILL BE AWARE, CHINA IS EXPERIENCING AN OUTBREAK OF A NOVEL CORONAVIRUS. THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION RISK ASSESSMENT FOR CHINA IS VERY HIGH AND THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA TRAVEL ADVISORY FOR CHINA (https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/china) IDENTIFIES RISKS TO TRAVELLER HEALTH AND ADVISES AGAINST ANY NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL. THE CDS HAS DETERMINED THAT TRAVEL BY CAF MBRS TO MAINLAND CHINA PRESENTS A RISK TO THE HEALTH OF CAF MBRS FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. IT IS IMPERATIVE TO PROTECT OUR FORCE AND ENSURE CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS. IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN MANDATED READINESS, THE CAF WILL IMMEDIATELY IMPLEMENT TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS THAT PRECLUDE ALL CAF TRAVEL TO CHINA, BUSINESS OR LEISURE, UNTIL OTHERWISE DIRECTED. IN LINE WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA TRAVEL ADVISORY, THE FOLLOWING MEASURES WILL APPLY: EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, LEAVE TRAVEL BY CAF MBRS TO CHINA IS CANCELLED THOSE CAF MBRS WHO MAY BE CURRENTLY TRAVELLING IN CHINA TO BE RECALLED TO DUTY AND PERSONALLY DIRECTED BY THEIR COMMANDING OFFICER IAW QR&O 16.01. CAF MEMBERS MUST RETURN TO THEIR PLACE OF DUTY AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE. UPON RELEASE OF THIS MESSAGE, ALL RECALLED CAF MEMBERS WILL BE CONSIDERED ON DUTY EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, AND IAW QR&O 16.04, NO AUTHORITY MAY APPROVE LEAVE TRAVEL FOR CAF MBRS TO MAINLAND CHINA UNTIL THIS DIRECTION IS RESCINDED. EXCEPTIONS FOR COMPASSIONATE REASONS MAY BE SUBMITTED FOR CDS APPROVAL THE TERM QUOTE TRAVEL TO UNQUOTE IS INCLUSIVE OF TRAVEL IN WHICH THE TRAVELLER IS TRANSITING THROUGH AN AIRPORT IN MAINLAND CHINA. THOSE WHO MAY HAVE INCURRED NON-REFUNDABLE EXPENSES DUE TO CANCELLATION OF, OR RECALL FROM AUTHORIZED LEAVE TRAVEL MAY SUBMIT CLAIMS IAW CBI 209.54 FOR CAF MEMBERS CURRENTLY SERVING IN CHINA, DUTY TRAVEL WITHIN CHINA, INCLUDING PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED TRAVEL, IS HEREBY SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL APPROVAL BY CDS UNTIL THIS DIRECTION IS RESCINDED RESTRICTIONS MAY BE EXPANDED AS DEEMED NECESSARY BY ON-GOING ASSESSMENTS. COMMANDING OFFICERS SHOULD CONSIDER POTENTIAL HEALTH ISSUES WHEN AUTHORIZING TRAVEL TO NEIGHBOURING REGIONS UNDER QR&O 1.03 ALL ORDERS AND INSTRUCTIONS ISSUED TO THE CAF UNDER THE NATIONAL DEFENCE ACT AUTHORITY APPLY TO THE RESERVE FORCE ONLY WHEN SUBJECT TO CODE OF SERVICE DISCIPLINE I.E. DURING TRAINING OR EXERCISE, ON TD, ON DEFENCE ESTABLISHMENT, IN UNIFORM. HOWEVER, RESERVE FORCE CHAIN OF COMMAND IS ENCOURAGED TO REMAIN MINDFUL THAT THE SPIRIT AND THE INTENT OF THIS ORDER IS TO BE COMMUNICATED. ONLY RESERVE FORCE MEMBERS WHO HAVE AN AUTHORIZED LEAVE PASS WILL BE RECALLED TO DUTY AND REIMBURSED IAW CBI 209.54 QUESTIONS ON THIS DIRECTION MAY BE ADDRESSED TO SJS DIRECTOR CURRENT OPERATIONS