{"id":70118,"date":"2020-04-05T14:42:19","date_gmt":"2020-04-05T14:42:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/04\/05\/troops-to-start-wearing-face-masks-in-public-to-prevent-coronavirus-spread\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T14:19:51","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T14:19:51","slug":"troops-to-start-wearing-face-masks-in-public-to-prevent-coronavirus-spread","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/coronavirus\/2020\/04\/05\/troops-to-start-wearing-face-masks-in-public-to-prevent-coronavirus-spread\/","title":{"rendered":"SECDEF issues guidelines for how troops will start wearing face coverings in public to prevent COVID-19 spread"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Service members will be instructed to start wearing face coverings in public in the latest effort to limit the spread<\/a> of the deadly coronavirus<\/a>, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said in in a military-wide memo issued Sunday afternoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DoD will not issue masks specifically for this and the memo says individuals should make their own face coverings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEffective 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\u2019s or Service family member\u2019s personal residence on a military installation),\u201d according to the memo. This includes all: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

*Military Personnel <\/p>\n\n\n\n

*DoD Civilian Employees <\/p>\n\n\n\n

*Family Members <\/p>\n\n\n\n

*DoD Contractors <\/p>\n\n\n\n

*All other individuals on DoD property, installations, and facilities <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exceptions to this requirement may be approved by local commanders or supervisors, and then submitted up the chain of command for situational awareness. Security checkpoints may require the lowering of face covers to verify identification, the memo states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness will issue updated force health protection guidance on DoD implementation. The Military Departments will issue guidance on wear for service members, according to the memo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs an interim measure, all individuals are encouraged to fashion face coverings from household items or common materials, such as clean T-shirts or other clean cloths that can cover the nose and mouth area,\u201d according to the memo. \u201cMedical personal protective equipment such as N95 respirators or surgical masks will not be issued for this purpose as these will be reserved for the appropriate personnel.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The move comes two days after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a national recommendation that citizens wear non-medical face coverings while in public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese include places like grocery stores and pharmacies,\u201d Surgeon General Jerome Adams said in a White House announcement Friday. \u201cWe especially recommend this in areas of significant community based transmission.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Esper, in an interview with ABC\u2019s This Week<\/a>, said the military would issue specific guidance by the end of the weekend to instruct commanders on when the masks should be worn.<\/p>\n\n\n\t