Do staff working in indoor premises, for example, shop workers, have to wear face coverings? Yes, if they are in an area accessible to the public. Face coverings are required in any indoor public space. This applies to staff working in those public spaces as well as members of the public.

Should employees wear cloth face coverings at work during the COVID-19 pandemic?

CDC recommends wearing a cloth face covering as a measure to contain the wearer’s respiratory droplets and help protect others. Employees should not wear a cloth face covering if they have trouble breathing, cannot tolerate wearing it, or can’t remove it without help.

Cloth face coverings are not considered personal protective equipment and may not protect the wearers from exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19. However, cloth face coverings may prevent workers, including those who don’t know they have the virus, from spreading it to others.

Remind employees and clients that CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are hard to maintain, especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. Wearing a cloth face covering, however, does not replace the need to practice social distancing.

What should workers know about cloth face coverings and the protection they provide?

• Cloth face coverings, whether provided by the employer or brought from home by the worker, are not respirators or disposable facemasks and do not protect the worker wearing them from exposures.
• Cloth face coverings are only intended to help contain the wearer's respiratory droplets from being spread.
• Used in this way, CDC has recommended cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. Wearing them may help people who unknowingly have the virus from spreading it to others.
• Workers can wear a cloth face covering if the employer has determined that a respirator or a disposable facemask is NOT required based on the workplace hazard assessment.

What is CDC stance on face coverings in workplace?

CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings as a protective measure in addition to social distancing (i.e., staying at least 6 feet away from others). Cloth face coverings may be especially important when social distancing is not possible or feasible based on working conditions.

A cloth face covering may reduce the amount of large respiratory droplets that a person spreads when talking, sneezing, or coughing.

Under which circumstances are people not required to wear a face mask during the COVID-19 pandemic?

• while eating, drinking, or taking medication for brief periods of time;
• while communicating, for brief periods of time, with a person who is hearing impaired when the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication;
• if, on an aircraft, wearing of oxygen masks is needed because of loss of cabin pressure or other event affecting aircraft ventilation;
• if unconscious (for reasons other than sleeping), incapacitated, unable to be awakened, or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance; or
• when necessary to temporarily remove the mask to verify one’s identity such as during Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening or when asked to do so by the ticket or gate agent or any law enforcement official.

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What happens if I don’t wear a mask in an indoor area or a public transportation during the COVID-19 pandemic?

On conveyances with no outdoor spaces, operators of public transportation conveyances must refuse to board anyone not wearing a mask that completely covers the mouth and nose. On conveyances with outdoor areas, operators must refuse to allow entry to indoor areas to anyone not wearing a mask.

Do I have to wear a mask every time I leave the house?

You should be wearing a mask outside if:
• It is difficult to maintain the recommended 6-foot social distancing from others (such as going to the grocery store or pharmacy or walking on a busy street or in a crowded neighborhood)
• If required to by law. Many areas now have mandatory masking regulations when in public

What if an employee refuses to come to work for fear of infection?

• Your policies, that have been clearly communicated, should address this.
• Educating your workforce is a critical part of your responsibility.
• Local and state regulations may address what you have to do and you should align with them.

How to protect employees from the COVID-19?

Remind employees that people may be able to spread COVID-19 even if they do not show symptoms. Consider all close interactions (within 6 feet) with employees, clients, and others as a potential source of exposure. Discourage handshaking, hugs, and fist bumps.

Encourage the use of outdoor seating areas and social distancing for any small-group activities such as lunches, breaks, and meetings.

For employees who commute to work using public transportation or ride sharing, consider offering the following support: If feasible, offer employees incentives to use forms of transportation that minimize close contact with others (e.g., biking, walking, driving or riding by car either alone or with household members)

What are some recommendations for employers during the COVID-19 pandemic?

• Make a visual inspection of the employee for signs of illness, which could include flushed cheeks, sweating inappropriately for ambient temperature, or difficulty with ordinary tasks.
• Conduct temperature and symptom screening

Are cloth face coverings the same as personal protective equipment (PPE)?

No, cloth face coverings are not PPE. These face coverings are not respirators and are not appropriate substitutes for them in workplaces where respirators are recommended or required for respiratory protection.

What are the benefits of wearing face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Masks are a simple barrier to help prevent your respiratory droplets from reaching others. Studies show that masks reduce the spray of droplets when worn over the nose and mouth. You should wear a mask, even if you do not feel sick.

Can face coverings reduce the risk of COVID-19?

A study of an outbreak aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, an environment notable for congregate living quarters and close working environments, found that use of face coverings on-board was associated with a 70% reduced risk.

How can an employer protect employees from COVID-19 in regards to hand washing?

• Remind employees to wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, they should use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Provide hand sanitizer, tissues and no touch waste baskets at the cash registers and in the restrooms.

How can employees and customers in workplaces protect themselves from COVID-19?

• Follow the policies and procedures of the employer related to illness, use of cloth masks, social distancing, cleaning and disinfecting, and work meetings and travel.
• Stay home if sick, except to get medical care.
• Practice social distancing by keeping at least 6 feet away from fellow employees or co-workers, customers, and visitors when possible.
• Wear cloth face coverings, especially when social distancing is not possible.
• Employees should inform their supervisor if they or their colleagues develop symptoms at work. No one with COVID-19 symptoms should be present at the workplace.
• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing noses, coughing, or sneezing, or having been in a public place.
- Use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available. Avoid touch
• Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth.

What can be done to protect employees who cannot maintain social distancing from other employees or customers?

Evaluate your workplace to identify situations where employees cannot maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from each other and/or customers. Use appropriate combinations of controls following the hierarchy of controls to addresses these situations to limit the spread of COVID-19. A committee of both employees and management may be the most effective way to recognize all of these scenarios.

It is important to note that control recommendations or interventions assigned to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 must be compatible with any safety programs and personal protective equipment (PPE) normally required for the job task.

What are some ways to prepare the workplace after a sick employee during the COVID-19 pandemic?

• Close off areas used by a sick person and do not use these areas until after cleaning and disinfecting them.
• Wait at least 24 hours before cleaning and disinfecting. If 24 hours is not feasible, wait as long as possible.

What are the best practices to prevent COVID-19 for manufacturing workers and employers?

Designate workers to monitor and facilitate distancing on production or assembly line floors. For some monitoring activities, it may be possible to leverage closed-circuit television (camera systems) to remotely view facilities as opposed to physically visiting the location.

Stagger break times or provide temporary break areas and restrooms to avoid groups of workers during breaks. Workers should maintain at least 6 feet of distance from others at all times, including on breaks.

Stagger workers' arrival and departure times to avoid congregations of workers in parking areas, locker rooms, and near time clocks. Provide visual cues (e.g., floor markings, signs) as a reminder to workers to maintain social distancing. Encourage workers to avoid carpooling to and from work, if possible.

Can I be forced to work during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Generally, your employer may require you to come to work during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, some government emergency orders may affect which businesses can remain open during the pandemic. Under federal law, you are entitled to a safe workplace. Your employer must provide a safe and healthful workplace.

Am I eligible for PUA benefits if I quit my job because of COVID-19?

There are multiple qualifying circumstances related to COVID-19 that can make an individual eligible for PUA, including if the individual quits his or her job as a direct result of COVID-19. Quitting to access unemployment benefits is not one of them.

Under what health conditions should an employee not enter the workspace during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Consider encouraging individuals planning to enter the workplace to self-screen prior to coming onsite and not to attempt to enter the workplace if any of the following are present:

• Symptoms of COVID-19
  
• Fever equal to or higher than 100.4°F*
  
• Are under evaluation for COVID-19 (for example, waiting for the results of a viral test to confirm infection)
  
• Have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and not yet cleared to discontinue isolation

*A lower temperature threshold (e.g., 100.0°F) may be used, especially in healthcare settings.

Can an employer require an employee to provide a note from their healthcare provider due to COVID-19 concerns?

Employers should not require sick employees to provide a COVID-19 test result or a healthcare provider’s note to validate their illness, qualify for sick leave, or to return to work. Healthcare provider offices and medical facilities may be extremely busy and not able to provide such documentation in a timely manner.

How often can I reuse a facemask during the COVID-19 pandemic?

● At this time, there is not known a maximum number of uses (donnings) the same facemask could be re-used.
● The facemask should be removed and discarded if soiled, damaged, or hard to breathe through.
● Not all facemasks can be re-used.
- Facemasks that fasten to the provider via ties may not be able to be undone without tearing and should be considered only for extended use, rather than re-use.
- Facemasks with elastic ear hooks may be more suitable for re-use.

Do we still need to wear a mask after getting a COVID-19 vaccine?

After you are fully vaccinated for COVID-19, take these steps to protect yourself and others:

• In general, you do not need to wear a mask in outdoor settings.
• If you are in an area with high numbers of COVID-19 cases, consider wearing a mask in crowded outdoor settings and when you are in close contact with others who are not fully vaccinated.
• If you have a condition or taking medications that weaken your immune system, you may not be fully protected even if you are fully vaccinated. You should continue to take all precautions recommended for unvaccinated people, including wearing a well-fitted mask, until advised otherwise by their healthcare provider.
• If you are fully vaccinated, to maximize protection from the Delta variant and prevent possibly spreading it to others, wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission.

Does wearing a face mask cause dizziness and headaches?

Wearing a cloth mask will not cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and headaches (also known as hypercapnia or carbon dioxide toxicity). Carbon dioxide passes through the mask, it does not build up inside the mask.