No masks authorized for fully-vaccinated

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. — The installation commander, Brig. Gen. Scott Cain, 96th Test Wing commander, revised Eglin’s mask-wear policy due to the new Department of Defense guidance for vaccinated personnel issued May 13.

Effective immediately, all fully-vaccinated DOD personnel, at least two weeks beyond their final dose, are no longer required to wear a mask indoors or outdoors on the installation. This includes retirees, dependents, contractors, civilians and foreign visitors to the base.

This policy will not apply to Eglin’s medical or dental facilities. Healthcare professionals will continue to comply with mask-wear guidance. Patients, visitors and all others entering base healthcare facilities will continue to wear masks while in these facilities to reduce transmission of COVID-19.

This revision allows approximately 40% of fully-vaccinated active-duty and all other DOD personnel to remove their masks if they choose. Fully-vaccinated personnel can also continue to wear their masks based on their level of comfort and safety.

Non-vaccinated personnel will continue to mask and social distance in all circumstances. Commanders and supervisors should not ask about an employee’s vaccination status or use vaccination status information to make decisions about how and when employees will report to a workplace instead of teleworking.

Commanders and supervisors may make exceptions to this revision as necessary to ensure a safe workforce until updated Force Health Protection guidance is issued.