Environmental Health & Safety

Face Covering Guidelines

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).

Please See Below for Face Covering Guidance and EH&S Respiratory Protection Offerings.

Request a Face Covering From EH&S!

In order to assist the UCR community to adhere to the face covering requirements, EH&S is providing face coverings for UCR personnel. Individuals should review the options and availability for face coverings below and submit a request for the appropriate number. 

 Face Covering Type

Face Mask
N-95 Respirator (Max: 5 per person) Request

   Request N-95 Respirator for voluntary use

GUIDANCE, OPTIONS & AVAILABILITY 

Combined with physical washing hands, and staying home when ill, face coverings help to limit the transmission of COVID-19 by minimizing droplet transmission when a person talks, coughs, or sneezes. Face coverings should be well-fitted, completely cover the nose and mouth, and fit snugly against the sides of your face and don't have gaps. Face coverings should not have exhalation valves or vents, which allow virus particles to escape, and should not be intended for respiratory protection.

For healthcare workers, employees requiring respiratory protection, and those with COVID-19 vaccination exemptions who would like an N95 respirator for voluntary use, visit EH&S Respiratory Protection Program.   

To adhere to state, local, and UC requirements, face coverings requirements are outlined in the COVID Prevention Plan.

Masks/Face Coverings

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) can be requested at:

 Request N-95 Respirator for voluntary use

N-95 Mask Extension

For any questions about N-95 masks please send an email at ehsih@ucr.edu. 

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.

In order to assist the UCR community to adhere to the face covering requirements, EH&S is providing face coverings for UCR personnel. Individuals should review the options and availability for face coverings below and submit a request for the appropriate number. 

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. 

  Request N-95 Respirator for voluntary use

N-95 Mask Extension