Colleagues – 

I write to call your attention to new guidance from the CDC with respect to masks and face coverings. While you may have seen news articles reporting this, it’s important to read the actual CDC language. There are three links to call to your attention; the first two are concise with graphics that are easy to understand. The third is a report that drives the updates in the first two. The key takeaway is the importance of mask fit.

1. Updated guide to masks

Please note the comments on winter clothing, face shields, and gaiters. This is the same link that we have shared in prior communications and in the Bates Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response Plan. The CDC continues to update the material on this link.

2. Guidance to improve how your mask protects you

“Correct and consistent mask use is a critical step everyone can take to prevent getting and spreading COVID-19. Masks work best when everyone wears them, but not all masks provide the same protection. When choosing a mask, look at how well it fits, how well it filters the air, and how many layers it has.”

3. The report that drives the updates in the first two.

“What are the implications for public health? These experiments highlight the importance of good fit to maximize mask performance. There are multiple simple ways to achieve better fit of masks to more effectively slow the spread of COVID-19.”

It’s been wonderful to see the students coming to campus – thanks to the many of you who are facilitating arrival today and over the weekend.

Best,

Geoff

Note: for those who notice the specificity of language (after all, we are a college), earlier in the pandemic the CDC made an effort to differentiate between a mask, which is a specific personal protective equipment term, and a face covering, which is a more general term. In the CDC guidance you can see that they have simplified the language to “masks”, presumably recognizing the colloquial use of “masks” as a broad term.