NATIONAL (WAVY) — The Department of Defense released a statement on Sunday that outlines guidance for those on DoD property who are in public settings where social distancing may not be an option.
This comes in response to the recent CDC recommendations for people to wear cloth face coverings while in public in an effort to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. The cloth or homemade masks are expected to provide extra protection against the virus.
According to the release, “Effective immediately, to the extent practical, all individuals on DoD property, installations, and facilities will wear cloth face coverings when they cannot maintain six feet of social distance in public areas or work centers (this does not include in a Service member’s or
Service family member’s personal residence on a military installation).”
This includes:
• Military personnel
• DoD civilian employees
• family members
• DoD contractors
• All other individuals on DoD property, installations, and facilities
Certain exceptions may be approved and more information can be found by contacting the local commanders and supervisors.
DoD security checkpoints may require people to lower face covers to verify identification.
Updated force health protection guidance will be released in the coming days by the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.
Individual military departments will issue specific guidance for service members wearing the masks.
Recommended materials to make homemade masks include clean shirts and clean cloths that can cover the nose and mouth area. N95 respirators and surgical masks will not be issued as they are reserved for the appropriate personnel.
Latest DoD policies can be found online.
Joint Base Langley-Eustis announced Monday it would follow the DoD guidance and require all people on Langley Air Force Base and Fort Eustis to wear cloth face coverings.
The guidance covers all military personnel, DoD civilian employees, family members, DoD contractors and all other individuals on DoD property, installations, and facilities.
Mandatory areas where masks much be worn include commissaries, exchanges, child development centers, lodging, dining facilities and other customer service areas with one-on-one interaction or lines for those waiting for service.
“The Secretary of Defense recently ordered the wearing of masks, in accordance with CDC guidance, to help slow the spread of COVID-19 to our warfighters, their dependents and our communities,” said Col. Clint Ross, Joint Base Langley-Eustis installation commander. “As we strive to find a new normal, this is just another preventative measure we’re taking across JBLE to combat this invisible enemy. There are numerous mission partners here at JBLE and each commander can determine additional wear guidance of personal protective equipment based on mission requirements for their unit. This isn’t business as usual, but business as required.”
Uniformed personnel must use face coverings that comply with the five military professional standards: neatness, cleanliness, safety, uniformity and military image.
Those entering the installation may need to remove masks or show them before gaining access to the facility.
On Monday, Newport News Shipbuilding sent a letter to workers encouraging them to wear face masks as they continue to work through the coronavirus pandemic.
Jennifer Boykin, president of Newport News Shipbuilding and vice president of Huntington Ingalls Industries, said that workers should wear a cloth face mask to work, “especially when you are not able to maintain a distance of six feet in your work area.”
A day later, Naval Station Norfolk followed suit in requiring all individuals to wear cloth face coverings.
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