FORT HOOD, Texas —Even as the installation and its surrounding communities continue to take measures to help slow the spread of coronavirus, Fort Hood officials conducted a tabletop exercise March 25 to further test the plans, policies and procedures in battling it.“Nobody wants to go to football practice during halftime,” Maj. Gen. Scott Efflandt, III Corps and Fort Hood deputy commanding general, said to those assembled inside the Fort Hood Garrison Emergency Operation Center at the start of the exercise, “but in this case, there is no halftime. It’s game on.”

Post officials decided to conduct the exercise even as more measures are being taken to limit exposure of the installation’s populace.

Fort Hood announced today the closure of all of its on-post gymnasiums.

Physical training will continue to be conducted, however, but only at the squad level with ten or less Soldiers participating, and only outdoors.

Other changes announced today include:

— Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center has opened its drive-through clinic for respiratory patients, which its commander, Col. Richard Malish, announced during the March 19 virtual town hall event live-streamed via Facebook.

— Four access control points will operate for limited hours (5 a.m. – 6 p.m.). The gates affected are: State Highway 195 Gate (adjacent to the Frank Mayborn Gate) on Fort Hood Street; Warrior Way Gate; Old Copperas Cove Gate; and 79th Street Gate.

— The Phantom Warrior Lanes bowling alley has closed.

— Belton Lake Outdoor Recreation Area has closed, except for patrons currently utilizing the travel camp. The West Fort Hood Travel Camp is also closed except for current residents.

For a full listing of Fort Hood programs and services affected by the post’s ongoing efforts to combat COVID-19, go to the installation’s social media pages at http://www.facebook.com/forthood or http://www.twitter.com/forthood.

A link to the listing of services is also available here: