Face Coverings FAQ

Image

When are face coverings required on campus?

Face coverings are required to be worn in university buildings whenever social distancing is not possible. For clarity, although wearing a face covering is one tool for reducing the spread of the coronavirus, doing so is not a substitute for social distancing of at least six feet and frequent hand washing.

If I work alone on campus do I need to wear a face covering? 

While working alone, employees are not required to wear a face covering. Individuals should have a face covering with them at all times, and when they come into close contact (less than six feet) with other people they should put on the face covering. 

Are face coverings required outside?

Face coverings are required to be worn outdoors when you are unable to maintain six feet of social distancing. 

Face coverings are not required when exercising outdoors (for instance, walking, hiking, biking, running), provided that a person is not passing within six feet of others. Regardless, it is recommended that you have a face covering with you and readily accessible when exercising, even if you’re not wearing it at that moment.

Who is not required to wear a face covering?

Face coverings should not be placed on children under age 2 or anyone who has a medical condition that prevents the use of a face covering; examples include trouble breathing, or if someone is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.

Can I wear my own face covering?

Yes, you are encouraged to wear a personally owned cloth face covering. There are several options for face coverings, as long as they cover the nose and mouth. Face coverings can be made from a variety of cloth materials, such as bandanas, scarves, T-shirts, sweatshirts or towels.

The CDC has provided simple instructions on how to make your own face covering.

Is UMass providing face coverings?

We encourage you to provide your own face covering whenever possible, and many members of our community have already purchased or made them for their use outside of UMass. The university is working to obtain additional face coverings and currently has a limited supply available, prioritized for front-line workers who are not able to maintain social distancing during assigned duties. 

Department managers can request disposable face coverings via oem@ehs.umass.edu and Environmental Health & Safety will work with each department on their specific needs.

Are there precautions I should take with my face covering? 

Using face coverings incorrectly can spread germs. For this reason, it is important to properly wear, store and dispose of face coverings by doing the following: 

• When putting on and taking off a face covering, you might touch your face. As such, please wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap and water or, if not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer every time you put on and take off your face covering. If you are unable to clean your hands, be very careful not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth when putting on and taking off your face covering.
   
• Do not put a used face covering in places where others can touch them or where germs trapped in your face covering can touch other surfaces, such as counter tops or your kitchen table.
   
• Do not throw your face covering loose in a bag or backpack. Keep a plastic bag with you to store your face covering if you will be taking it off when outside your home.
   
• Used paper masks should be thrown out at the end of the day. Properly dispose in the garbage. Do not throw single-use face coverings or disposable gloves on the ground. 

How often do I need to wash my face covering? 

If you are using a cloth face covering, we recommend washing once a day by hand or machine using detergent. The face covering should be fully dry before using. People should have at least two face coverings so they can rotate for washing. 

For how long can I use a paper face covering? 

If you use a paper face covering, we recommend that you use a new one every day. Throw used face coverings into the garbage when you are done. Please don’t use health care worker masks, such as N95 or surgical masks. It is essential that we save health care worker masks for our health care workers.

What are some general face covering maintenance tips?

Your face covering must:

• Cover nose and mouth
• Fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face
• Be secured with ties, elastic or ear loops
• Include multiple layers of fabric
• Allow for breathing without restriction

Why do my glasses fog up and what are some tips to prevent that from happening?

Glasses fog up when you're wearing a face covering because the face covering redirects your warm breath upward instead of forward, which forms condensation on the lenses. A tighter seal on the top of the mask (from a nose clip, for instance) can help reduce this phenomenon.

• Immediately before wearing a face covering, wash your glasses with soapy water and shake off the excess. Then, let the glasses air dry or gently dry off the lenses with a soft tissue before putting them back on
• Pull your mask up and rest your glasses on top of the mask. 
• Consider adding a folded tissue to the inside top of your face covering, which can also help to absorb moisture and reduce fogging.
• Consider taping your face covering across the bridge of your nose and across your cheeks.

If these methods are not working, consider purchasing anti-fog spray or wipes. 

Do I need to wear a face covering in the residence halls?

While in their residence hall room alone, students are not required to wear a face covering. When in residence hall common spaces such as hallways and stairwells, students should have a face covering with them at all times, and when they come into close contact (less than six feet) with other people they should put on the face covering.