HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla -- The DoD has published guidance that supports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) position on the wear of cloth face coverings.
Homestead ARB will follow this guidance which states, “Effective immediately per the Secretary of Defense’s direction in Reference a, to the extent practical without significantly impacting mission, all individuals on DoD property, installations, and facilities are required to wear cloth face coverings when they cannot maintain six feet of physical distance in public areas or work centers.”
Public places of note, outside of our work areas, would include: AAFES, the CAC, Blazin Beans etc.
Be prepared to drop your face covering when entering the instillation.
The cloth face covering is not a substitute for physical distancing. The cloth face covering is to help prevent those who are asymptomatic from transmitting, more than protecting oneself from potentially contracting the virus.
The resources do not exist to provide all mission essential personnel with masks. Please review acceptable alternatives and how to make cloth face coverings at home on the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html
While the AF/A1 continues to develop direction on the cloth face coverings, face coverings should remain professional and in good taste and follow guidance in AFI 36-2903 that addresses neckgaiters (7.3.8.4) and balaclavas (8.1.9.4).