Environmental Health & Safety

Face Covering Guidelines

• Face Covering guidelines (updated June 22, 2023)

  Effective May 11, 2023 the CDC will no longer calculate the COVID-19 Community Levels as a result of the sunsetting of the federal public health emergency. As a result, CDPH is sunsetting its Guidance for the Use of Face Masks and is recommending all Californians consider the following:

  • Wear a mask around others if you have respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, runny nose, and/or sore throat),
  • If you've had a significant exposure to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, wear a mask for 10 days.
  • When choosing to wear a mask, ensure your mask provides the best fit and filtration (respirators like N95, KN95 and KF94 are best).

  In the event of a workplace outbreak at UCR the employees in the exposed group must wear face coverings indoors or outdoors when less than six feet from another person, unless a medical exception applies. Free masks (N-95 and/or surgical) can be requested at: https://campusreturn.ucr.edu/face-coverings.

  If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, please stay at home, use a COVID-19 at-home antigen test, and contact your primary care physician or UCR Student Health Services.  Reporting positive COVID-19 cases through the UCR Screening Check is still required. 
  You may also be required to undergo COVID-19 testing as part of UCR's outbreak protocols.

• Can I impose stricter masting restrictions in my individual or groups workspace?

  Individuals or departments are not permitted to revise university face covering guidelines in campus spaces that they manage. This includes classrooms and research facilities.

• What mask should I wear?

  The California Department of Public Health recommends using surgical masks or well-fitted higher-level respirators (e.g. N95s, KN95, etc.).

• Worn face coverings should meet the following criteria:

  Worn face coverings must meet the following criteria:

  • Acceptable face coverings include: surgical masks, medical procedure masks, NIOSH-certified respirators, or a tightly woven fabric or non-woven material of at least two layers.
    • Face coverings must cover the nose, mouth, and chin.
    • Face coverings are not acceptable if (i) they have one layer, or (ii) if light shines through the face covering when held up to a light source.  
    • Worn respirators may not be equipped with valves. 
       
  • Unacceptable face coverings include: scarves, ski masks, balaclavas, bandanas, turtlenecks, collars, or other single-layered fabrics. 

Where to Get Masks