Per Governor Hogan’s orders, faculty, staff, students, and visitors, including vendors, are required to wear face coverings at all times when in common areas of all campus buildings or in the presence of others. Face coverings do not need to be worn when eating or drinking or when isolated in a private office or private vehicle. Face coverings are also required in outside spaces when social distancing of at least six feet is not possible.
Face coverings are a critical preventive measure used to help protect others in our community. Whether disposable or reusable, it is important to understand what is defined as an acceptable face covering on our campus. All face coverings, with the exception of Humanity Shields, must:
- be made with at least two layers of breathable material;
- fully cover the nose and mouth and secure under the chin;
- fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face; and
- be secured with ties or ear loops, allowing one to remain hands-free.
The following are not acceptable face coverings: open-chin triangle bandanas and face coverings containing one-way valves, mesh material or holes of any kind. Face coverings with two-way filtering valves are acceptable. Per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance, face shields cannot be used as a substitute for an acceptable face covering.
Here is a video from Consumer Reports that shows some simple steps to make sure that you are wearing your cloth mask properly.