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COVID update: Lab moves to Minimum Safe Operations

In response to the growing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, I am directing an orderly move to Minimum Safe Operations for our Laboratory. This move will allow us to comply with the various county shelter-in-place orders, state and federal government recommendations, and – most importantly – enable us to protect the health and safety of our workforce.

During Minimum Safe Operations, the Laboratory will reduce on-site staffing to a minimum number necessary to ensure the safety and security of the site and its facilities, as well as to carry out a very limited number of mission-critical activities. All other on-site activities will be temporarily halted. This transition is expected to take several days, with Minimum Safe Operations fully in place by Monday, March 23. Employees who are involved in this transition process or assigned to the limited mission-critical activities will be notified directly by management.

All employees who can effectively telecommute should plan to do so beginning Tuesday, March 17. Anyone who has not done so should contact their supervisor for guidance on work activities while telecommuting. Telecommuting employees should charge their appropriate project and task. Employees who cannot telecommute should not report to the Lab and should adhere to the shelter-in-place order. Authorized leave should be charged for this time. Employees who are sick, or caring for those sick, should charge sick leave or family sick leave, as appropriate.

All employees should make sure that their workspace is safe and secure before leaving. Detailed information on time charging will be sent via e-Line and Newsline.

Employees who need to return to pick up equipment for telecommuting may do so Tuesday, if the equipment is available. Those awaiting equipment will be contacted. As a reminder, all LLNL equipment leaving the Laboratory must be approved for off-site use, be properly encrypted and have a property pass. For important information on telecommuting, including how to use your personal computer to work from home or access needed software, click here.

Minimum Safe Operations will continue through Tuesday, April 7. During this time, it is important that employees regularly check for updates via e-Line, AtHoc or the external Emergency Communication web page. All employees who have not done so should sign up for AtHoc. Click here for instructions.

The COVID-19 employee hotline remains available at 2-6843 (COVID). Employees also can access a regularly updated list of Frequently Asked Questions and a compilation of helpful information. Employees with questions not answered by the FAQs and listed resources may also reach out to //covid19 [at] llnl.gov (this email address).

During this time, I urge employees to adhere to the county shelter-in-place orders and continue the basic precautions to help avoid the spread of COVID-19, including social distancing, keeping your immune system healthy, washing your hands frequently and avoiding contact with others who are sick. I hope that these actions enable us to prevent serious outcomes from COVID-19 infection in our community.

I know this is a stressful and confusing time, and I want to thank everyone for their patience and understanding as we navigate these uncharted waters.

- Bill Goldstein, Laboratory Director

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Note: The links in the message above are internal to the Lab. In certain instances, they may not work.