Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin signed a memo Thursday requiring everyone on military installations or performing Defense Department duties to wear masks.
Austin's memo is effective immediately and requires people to wear masks anywhere other than their homes, including outdoors.
Under the new guidance, individuals must wear masks continuously while on military installations with few exceptions, including when in a closed office alone, for brief periods of time when eating and drinking while distanced, when the mask must be lowered briefly for identification or security purposes and when necessary to reasonably accommodate someone with a disability.
"Individuals must consistently wear a mask that covers the nose and mouth and that comports with all current guidance from the CDC and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration," the memo reads. "Locations where masks must be worn include any common areas or shared workspaces (including open floorplan office spaces, cubicle embankments, and conference rooms) and in outdoor shared spaces."
Masks recommended by the CDC include non-medical disposable masks, masks with breathable fabric such as cotton, masks made with more tightly woven fabrics, masks with two or three layers and masks with inner filter pockets.
"Novelty or non-protective masks, masks with ventilation valves, or face shields are not authorized as a substitute for masks," the memo reads. "Masks must fit properly (snugly around the nose and chin with no large gaps around the sides of the face)."
The mask mandate includes "all individuals on military installations and all individuals performing official duties on behalf of the Department from any location other than the individual's home."
The memo also requires that those same individuals follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for physical distancing, including staying at least six feet away from others who are not a part of your household in both indoor and outdoor spaces.
"COVID-19 is one of the deadliest threats our Nation has ever faced. As we have done throughout our history, the military will rise to this challenge," Austin wrote in the memo. "It is imperative that we do all we can to ensure the health and safety of our force, our families, and our communities so we can prevail in this fight."
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Reach Abbie Bennett: abbie@connectingvets.com or @AbbieRBennett.
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