Masking up: The hows, whens and whys

Why do all faculty, staff and students need to wear masks in hallways, common areas and breakrooms?

Masks minimize how many infectious particles are released into an area. Infectious particles can spread just by breathing and it is the most common way COVID-19 spreads from person to person. Since people infected with COVID-19 can spread this to others before they develop symptoms, everyone should wear a mask anytime they’re in close contact with others. In some instances, people with COVID-19 infection never develop symptoms. Wearing a mask limits the spread of potentially infectious particles. Studies also reveal masks offer some protection to those wearing it. A study out of Hong Kong on the SARS coronavirus demonstrated people who frequently wore a mask in public were half as likely to be infected.

Where is it appropriate to wear a cloth mask?

Cloth masks are appropriate anytime you’re out in the community, running errands or in social situations. At work, cloth masks can be worn in office settings, hallways, breakrooms, and common areas. Cloth masks cannot be worn by clinical team members while they provide patient care or have direct contact with patients. Anyone who works in a clinic or inpatient setting should wear a Nebraska Medicine-provided procedural mask.

When do I need to wear a mask?

You need to wear a mask as you arrive to the entrance of any Nebraska Medicine or UNMC building. You can wear either a cloth or a procedural mask. If you work in a clinical area, you must replace your cloth mask with a procedural mask to perform your clinical duties. UNMC also requires a mask be worn when walking on campus.

If I work in a shared office space, do I need to wear a mask?

Masking is an important component of preventing the spread of COVID-19. It’s even more important to maintain a minimum of six feet of distance from others. However, a lot depends on the length of contact time and the air handling system in the office space. In an enclosed indoor setting where personnel are sharing the air for an extended period of time, it would be prudent to wear a mask — even in some situations where the minimum six-foot distance is maintained.

If I’m in an elevator, should I wear a mask?

Yes.

If masks are so important, why do I see staff not wearing one?

All faculty, staff and students should follow the campus mask policy (UNMC policy/Nebraska Medicine policy, which also outlines expectations for patients/visitors). Our patients look to us as experts. They notice when we seem out of step with our messaging. Masks may be inconvenient, but if you’re protecting your colleagues and the patients we care for, isn’t it worth it?

Why is it so important for me to wear one in the community?

People often look to us as experts. Unfortunately, some people perceive wearing a mask as a political statement in our divided country. COVID-19 doesn’t care about your political affiliations, it’s willing to infect anyone it comes across. Do the right thing — wear a mask.

COVID-19 cases are stable in Nebraska. Why should we be concerned with wearing masks?

If we’re not careful, what’s happening in the southern and western parts of the country could find its way to Nebraska, said Mark Rupp, MD, chair of the UNMC Division of Infectious Diseases and medical director of Nebraska Medicine Infection Control and Epidemiology. We need to stay vigilant.

Learn more here.