COVID is most often spread through close contact with a positive person either by direct contact or droplets produced when the person coughs, sneezes, breathes, sings, or talks. COVID can be spread through contact with contaminated surfaces as well, but it is less common.

While the virus may be detectable on surfaces for hours to days, the ability to actually develop an infection from surfaces has yet to be fully understood. Detectability of the virus on a surface does not equal infectability. It is a good practice to clean any high-touch surfaces frequently with a cleaning agent capable of killing Coronaviruses

UV light (sunlight) has not proven to kill COVID.

Cloth face coverings and surgical masks reduce the spread of droplets that come out of your nose and mouth from coughing, sneezing, or talking. This reduces the chance of someone else being infected by the wearer’s droplets. Masks work to reduce the chance of people getting sick, especially from people that may not be showing symptoms yet or people who do not show symptoms. COVID can be spread by people even when they do not have symptoms, so it is best to always wear your mask when you are around others.

Fitted N95 masks, used by healthcare personnel, protect the wearer from the droplets of other people.

The best way to minimize your exposure and potential to contract the virus is by practicing physical distancing, washing your hands, and to avoid touching your face/eyes/mouth. There are no vitamins, minerals, pills, or supplements that prevent COVID.

A close contact either had direct contact (hugs, high-five, etc.) with a positive individual or came within 6ft for 15 minutes or longer over a 24hr period of a positive while the positive individual was in his/her infectious period.

The infectious period for a positive individual starts either:

• Two days before his/her symptoms began OR
• Two days before he/she was tested positive if they had no symptoms

You may designate a trusted agent who is not on ROM (household member, friend, First Sergeant, etc.) to come and pick up your medications on your behalf. Please ensure the person picking up your medications has your full name, date of birth, AND a list, type, or number of medications they are picking up. If you encounter any issues with this process, or have any questions about your prescriptions, please call the Pharmacy at 0434 30 5214.

You CANNOT come and pick up your medications in-person while on ROM.

COVID is most often spread through close contact with a positive person either by direct contact or droplets produced when a person coughs, sneezes, breathes, sings, or talks.

COVID can be spread through contact with contaminated surfaces as well, but it is less common.

You may contact the COVID Clinic by calling the MDG appointment line at 0434 30 5000, option 1, then 2.

Yes. We appreciate your patience with our MDG COVID screening desk as we are working to ensure the safest environment for our patients and staff.

COVID testing takes place on the backside of the medical building on Area 1.

When coming through the gate on Area 1, take the right at the roundabout to the MDG parking area and drive all the way to the back of the parking lot. You will see reserved parking spaces for COVID testing.

Please DO NOT get out of your vehicle. A technician will come to your vehicle.

You CANNOT ride with anyone to your testing appointment unless they currently reside with you.

If you do not have your own vehicle to transport you, let the COVID team know. They can work a plan to best accommodate your testing.

Most patients will be tested within 2-4 duty days.

Most patients will be tested with our Host Nation partners and results will be available in 1-2 duty days.

Some patients will be tested with a “send out” test and results can take up to 1 week.

Very few patients will receive a rapid test (only by request of Sq/CC) which has results within 1 duty day.

We would like to be able to offer same-day testing to all our beneficiaries, however our supplies are limited. A same-day test must be requested through the leadership for individuals who meet the criteria to receive one.

You may be tested for influenza and/or strep at your testing appointment IF it is determined your symptoms qualify for those tests.

Please DO NOT go to the ER to get a COVID test faster. Many individuals going to the ER are sick.  To keep them safe, the local hospitals want to keep individuals with COVID symptoms away as much as possible.

If you are having COVID symptoms, please call the MDG appointment line at 0434 30 5000, option 1, then 2. If you meet the requirements for testing, we will get you scheduled for our soonest testing date. The length of time between when you are tested and when your results are available will depend on the kind of test used.

Yes, you can pay for testing off base. If you choose to test off base it is still recommended to call the MDG at 0434 30 5000, option 1, then 2. This will allow the COVID team to assess your unique situation and ensure no further ROM is necessary.

If you are Active Duty and the COVID team determines testing is warranted, it will be mandatory.

If you are a dependent, it is highly recommended to be tested for COVID if you are symptomatic in order to identify positive cases and reduce further spread.

If you are symptomatic and NOT a contact of a positive case or you are asymptomatic and ARE a contact of a positive case:  the other members in your household do not need to ROM while you are waiting for test results. Please ensure to practice physical distancing, hand-washing, and wearing masks even within your household.

If you are symptomatic and ARE a contact of a positive case: all other members in your household will need to ROM until your test results are back. All other active duty member’s in the household will receive a COVID screening and will be placed on ASIMS quarters.

There are two different kinds of tests we use to detect COVID: 1) diagnostic and 2) antibody.

1. Diagnostic tests can be molecular, which detect the virus’s genetic material, or antigen, which detect specific proteins on the surface of the virus. These tests will be positive about 2-14 days after being exposed to COVID.
2. Antibody tests tell us who had COVID at some point. It takes about 1-3 weeks for someone to develop antibodies and test positive with this kind of test. These tests are not used to tell if someone currently has COVID.

Some people will never show symptoms and still test positive for COVID.

No.  Italian Law requires a 14-day ROM for those returning from the US.

When you take a viral test, it is telling you if you are sick at that time.

The test cannot tell you if you will become sick or contagious in a week or in two days.

A person can be exposed to COVID and not test positive or become symptomatic for 14 days.

Cloth face coverings and surgical masks reduce the spread of droplets that come out of your nose and mouth from coughing, sneezing, or talking. This reduces the chance of someone else being infected by the wearer’s droplets.

Masks work to reduce the chance of people getting sick especially from people that may not be showing symptoms yet or people who do not show symptoms. COVID can be spread by people even when they do not have symptoms, so it is best to always wear your mask when you are around others.

If you are using a reusable cloth mask, it should be washed whenever it gets dirty, but daily at a minimum. Your mask can be machine washed with your other laundry or hand washed with detergent or soap. It is recommended to air dry your mask after washing.

“Day 1” of ROM will be the day AFTER you arrived, the day you arrive is “Day 0.”

Example: You arrive to Italy on 01 Dec. 01 Dec is “Day 0.” 02 Dec is “Day 1.” 15 Dec is “Day 14.” You are released and cleared to return to work on 16 Dec.

Refer to the COVID-19 Travel Restrictions page to receive the most up-to-date information on travel ROM requirements.

The MDG is unable to provide leisure travel testing at this time.

No. You can be released by working with your unit leadership to ensure proper protocol has been followed.

If the member was COVID tested, they will be released with negative test results AND clearance from their PCM team.

If they did not test for COVID, they will be released based on symptom improvement, ROM period determined by PCM, and clinical judgement on a case-by-case basis.

Close Contacts

• Released 14 days AFTER date of last contact with positive case OR on or after “Day 10” only if a COVID test was conducted on or after “Day 10” and results were negative. In both scenarios, you MUST also have clearance from your PCM team and CANNOT self-release on an expected date of release.
• “Day 0” of ROM is the date of last contact. “Day 1” is the date AFTER the last date of contact.
  • Example: You last had contact with a positive case on 01 Dec. 01 Dec is “Day 0.” 02 Dec is “Day 1.” 15 Dec is “Day 14.” You can expect a phone call from your PCM on 16 Dec, or the soonest duty day after, to release you from your ROM.

Household Contacts

• If you live with a positive case and cannot separate in your home, you are considered a household contact. You will be released on a case-by-case basis, but should expect to be on ROM for roughly 24 days.

1. If you had COVID symptoms and tested positive, you may return when the following criteria are met:
   • 10 days since your symptoms began
   • 3 days without symptoms
   • 1 negative test
2. If you did not have COVID symptoms and tested positive, you may return when the following criteria are met:
   • 10 days since your test was taken
   • 1 negative test
3. If you keep testing positive, you may return when the following criteria are met:
   • 21 days have passed since your first test was taken or your symptoms began
   • 7 days without symptoms

Either the COVID team will call and notify you of your contact with a positive case or the unit leadership of the active duty member in the household will notify you of your contact with a positive case.

If you are notified by unit leadership, please do not call the MDG. The COVID team is already tracking your case and will call you to complete your COVID screening in 1-2 duty days.  Please remain on ROM until the COVID team calls with further instructions.

If your employer and/or school requires a clearance letter for your return, you may pick it up AFTER your PCM team has called you and officially cleared you from ROM.

Come to the MDG on Area 1 and request the documentation from the central check-in desk.

If you are awaiting release from your PCM team and have passed your expected date of release, you may call the medical appointment line at 0434 30 5000 option 1, then 2 and request to speak to your PCM about your ROM release.

You CANNOT release yourself from ROM unless your ROM was strictly travel-related only (see travel section). You MUST have PCM clearance regardless even if your expected release date has passed.

Children who are 12 and under will all receive a phone call from the Pediatrics team within 1-2 duty days of your original call to the MDG appointment line. You can expect your child’s release to be based on symptom improvement and clinical judgement from their PCM.

Children who are 13 and up will be recommended for testing and released upon negative results and PCM clearance.