SECRETARY
OF
DEFENSE
1
000
DEFENSE
PENTAGON
WASHINGTON
,
DC
20301
-
1000
FEB
- 4
2021
MEMORANDUM FOR SENIOR PENTAGON LEADERSHIP
COMMANDERSOFTHECOMBATANTCOMMANDS
DEFENSE AGENCY AND DOD FIELD ACTIVITY DIRECTORS
,,.
I
SUBJECT: Use
of
Masks and Other Public Health Measures
We must defeat the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and defend the force against
COVID-19 ,while protecting our Nation. In accordance with Executive Order 13991, "Protecting the
Federal Workforce and Requiring Mask-Wearing," January 20, 2021,and Office
of
Management
and Budget Memorandum, "COVID-19 Safe Federal Workplace: Agency Model Safety Principles,"
January 24, 2021, this memorandum rescinds Secretary
of
Defense Memorandum, "Department
of
Defense Guidance on Cloth Face Coverings," April 5, 2020, and provides updated guidance on the
, use
of
face coverings and masks, social distancing, and full compliance with health guidance
provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Effective immediately, all individuals on military installations, as defined below, and all
individuals performing official duties on behalf
of
the Department from any location other than
the individual's home, including outdoor shared spaces, will wear masks in accordance with the
most current CDC guidelines. Individuals must wear masks continuously while on military
installations except:
(1) when an individual is alone in an office with floor-to-ceiling walls with
a closed door; (2) for brief periods
of
time when eating and drinking while maintaining
distancing in accordance with CDC guidelines and instructions from commanders and
supervisors; (3) when the mask is required to be lowered briefly for identification or security
purposes; and (4) when necessary to reasonably accommodate an individual with·a disability.
Individuals must consistently wear a mask th~t covers the nose and mouth and that
comports with all current guidance from the CDC and the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration. 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 made with breathable fabric (such as cott~n), masks made with tightly
woven fabric (i.e., fabrics that do not let light pass through when held up to a light source),
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.
Masks must fit properly (i.e., snugly around the nose and chin with no large gaps around the
sides
of
the face).
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 will follow CDC
guidance and practice physical distancing, specifically by staying at least 6 feet (about 2 arm
lengths) from other people who are not from an individual's household in both indoor and
outdoor spaces. Social distancing should be practiced in combination with other everyday
preventive actions to reduce the spread ofCOVID-19, including by wearing masks, avoiding
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touching your face with unwashed hands, and frequently washing your hands with soap and
water for at least 20 seconds.
Categorical
or
case-by-case exceptions to these requirements for Service members and
their families in environments other than office spaces that are necessary for military readiness,
that are related to living
on
a military installation,
or
that are related to
mask
wearing
by
children
(so long as such exceptions are consistent with CDC guidelines for mask wearing
by
children)
may be granted in writing
by
DoD Component heads and should include appropriate alternative
safeguards whenever feasible, such as additional physical distancing measures or additional
testing consistent with
DoD
testing protocols. The authority to grant exceptions for all DoD
Components located
on
the Pentagon Reservation is the Interim Director
of
Administration and
Management. For all other situations outside
of
office settings when temporary unmasking is
necessary for mission requirements, the authority to grant exceptions may be delegated in writing
to officials at a level no lower than a general/flag officer in the grade
of
0-
7, Senior Executive
Service member (or equivalent), or, for installations that do not have official~ at these levels,
0-6
installation commanders.
For the purposes
of
this guidance, a military installation is a base, camp, post, station,
yard, center, homeport facility for any ship,
or
other activity under the jurisdiction
of
the
Secretary
of
a Military Department
or
the Secretary
of
Defense, including any leased facility,
which is located within any State, the District
of
Columbia, the Commonwealth
of
Puerto Rico,
American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth
of
the Northern Mariana Islands,
or
Guam. In the case
of
an activity in a foreign country, a military installation is any area under the
operational control
of
the Secretary
of
a Military Department
or
the Secretary
of
Defense,
without regard to the duration
of
operational control.
DoD
Components will comply with applicable labor relations obligations to the extent
such obligations do
not
conflict with the agency's ability to conduct operations during this
emergency.
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. 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.
Questions concerning this guidance
may
be directed to the Office
of
the Under Secretary
of
Defense for Personnel and Readiness.
cc:
Assistant
to
the Secretary
of
Defense for Intelligence Oversight
Director
of
Administration and Management
2
