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NAVADMIN 100/20

MSGID/NAVADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/CNO/APR//

SUBJ/NAVY GUIDANCE ON THE USE OF FACE COVERINGS//

REF/A/DOC/DOD/05APR20//
NARR/REF A IS DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE GUIDANCE ON THE USE OF FACE COVERINGS

RMKS/1. NAVY IS COMMITTED TO TAKING EVERY PRECAUTION TO ENSURE THE HEALTH AND 
WELLBEING OF OUR PEOPLE AND THE NATION IN RESPONSE TO THE CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 
2019 (COVID-19) PANDEMIC.  NAVY SUPPORTS, AND WILL CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT, ALL 
MEASURES NECESSARY TO MITIGATE RISKS TO THE FORCE, TO OUR MISSION AND TO THE 
SPREAD OF THE DISEASE. THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC) 
RECOMMENDS WEARING CLOTH FACE COVERINGS IN PUBLIC SETTINGS WHERE OTHER SOCIAL 
DISTANCING MEASURES ARE DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN, ESPECIALLY IN AREAS OF 
SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY-BASED TRANSMISSION. NAVY UNIFORMED PERSONNEL, CIVILIAN 
EMPLOYEES, THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, AND NAVY CONTRACTORS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED 
TO FOLLOW ALL CDC GUIDELINES, INCLUDING THE USE OF CLOTH FACE COVERINGS.

2. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, IAW REF (A) TO THE EXTENT PRACTICAL, ALL 
INDIVIDUALS ON DOD PROPERTY, INSTALLATIONS, AND FACILITIES ARE REQUIRED TO 
WEAR CLOTH FACE COVERINGS WHEN THEY CANNOT MAINTAIN SIX FEET OF SOCIAL 
DISTANCE.  THIS INCLUDES ALL:

2.A. MILITARY PERSONNEL

2.B. NAVY CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES

2.C. FAMILY MEMBERS

2.D. NAVY CONTRACTORS

2.F. ALL OTHER INDIVIDUALS ON DOD PROPERTY, INSTALLATIONS, AND FACILITIES.

3.  EXCEPTIONS TO THIS REQUIREMENT MAY BE APPROVED BY LOCAL COMMANDERS. ALL 
PERSONNEL SHALL BE PREPARED TO LOWER FACE COVERING AS DIRECTED BY SECURITY 
FORCES TO VERIFY IDENTIFICATION.

4. THE NAVY WILL CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT PROTECTIVE MEASURES TO MITIGATE THE 
SPREAD OF COVID-19 TO OUR TOTAL FORCE AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE. THE LATEST DOD POLICIES CAN BE FOUND AT:
HTTPS://WWW.DEFENSE.GOV/EXPLORE/SPOTLIGHT/CORONAVIRUS

5. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, ANY FACE COVERING THAT IS CONSERVATIVE IN 
APPEARANCE, NOT OFFENSIVE, AND CONFORMS TO THE BELOW CDC GUIDANCE IS 
ACCEPTABLE TO BE WORN IN UNIFORM.  FACE COVERINGS WILL:

5.A. FIT SNUGLY BUT COMFORTABLY AGAINST THE SIDE OF THE FACE

5.B. BE FROM NOSE TO CHIN  FULL FACE COVERINGS (LIKE SKI MASKS) ARE NOT 
AUTHORIZED

5.C. BE SECURED WITH TIES OR EAR LOOPS

5.D. PREFERABLY INCLUDE MULTIPLE LAYERS OF FABRIC IF MATERIAL IS CLOTH

5.E. ALLOW FOR BREATHING WITHOUT RESTRICTION

6. UNTIL OFFICIAL UNIFORM FACE COVERINGS ARE PRODUCED AND IMPLEMENTED, 
PERSONNEL ARE AUTHORIZED TO WEAR MEDICAL OR CONSTRUCTION TYPE MASKS, OR OTHER 
CLOTH COVERING SUCH AS BANDANAS, SCARFS, ETC.  WHEN IN DOUBT, PRIORITY WILL 
BE COMPLIANCE WITH THE CDC GUIDANCE FOR FUNCTION OVER APPEARANCE OR PREFERRED 
DATE OF IMPLEMENTATION. NON -UNIFORMED PERSONNEL ARE ADVISED TO FOLLOW THE 
GUIDANCE AS OUTLINED IN THE SECTION ABOVE.
DIRECTIONS FOR HOW TO PRODUCE THESE MASKS CAN BE FOUND ON THE CDC WEBSITE:
HTTPS://WWW.CDC.GOV/CORONAVIRUS/2019-NCOV/PREVENT-GETTING-SICK/DIY-CLOTH-FACE
-COVERINGS.HTML.

7.  ONCE AVAILABLE, SAILORS WILL BE ABLE TO PROCURE AND WEAR OFFICIAL NAVY 
UNIFORM FACE COVERINGS.

8. RELEASED BY VADM P. G. SAWYER, DEPUTY CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS FOR 
OPERATIONS, PLANS AND STRATEGY, OPNAV N3/N5.//

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