Mar

Creating a mask-friendly environment

The COVID-19 team recently released an update on how we will create a mask-friendly environment for staff and volunteers even as mask requirements and other mitigations are lifting.

As we continue to see declining new cases of COVID-19 and improving health metrics across all our locations, and as Secretary Bunch recently announced, starting tomorrow, March 30, some of our most visible safety mitigations will be lifted and will align with new CDC guidance. Namely, on-site staff will not be required to wear face coverings and social distancing restrictions and building capacity limits will be lifted. Along with the relaxing of these restrictions, we look forward to welcoming many of you back over the next few weeks. We hope those who are returning after so long take the opportunity to thank their colleagues who have been a constant presence at our facilities and have kept our buildings, staff, visitors, and collections safe and well cared for throughout the pandemic.

As we move into this new stage of managing the pandemic, we know that each of you have different risk tolerances. You, your colleagues, or family members may have risk factors that present additional personal concerns. While it is safe to reduce mitigations in the workplace at this time, the Smithsonian will support your individual decisions to further protect your health – and we hope that you, too, will be supportive of your colleagues’ choices.

The Smithsonian is, and will continue to be, a mask-friendly institution and is committed to fostering an inclusive, safe, and supportive workplace. While masks will no longer be required, any employee who wishes to wear a cloth mask, KN95 mask, or N95 respirator for any reason may do so. Donning a mask is a good additional health measure if you are required to participate in an activity where you feel uncomfortable. When worn properly, KN95 masks and N95 respirators provide excellent protection for the wearer against COVID-19.

The Smithsonian will provide KN95 masks and N95 respirators (as well as the associated N95 voluntary-use training) to anyone who wishes to wear these masks at work. To order masks and schedule any required training, please work with your supervisor and your unit’s Safety Coordinator.

Please note: Based on the recently-extended Travel Security Administration (TSA) mask mandate for public transportation, all riders and drivers must continue wearing masks on all Smithsonian shuttles.

We want to reiterate that not all mitigation measures are being eliminated. Everyone who reports to a Smithsonian facility must still take the daily health screening questions before arriving for work and shall follow the instructions based on their responses. If you feel unwell, even if just mildly so, do not come to work. Remember, if you’re sick, stay home! We hope that everyone has seen and felt the benefit that when ill colleagues stay home, whether during a pandemic or not, everyone stays healthier.

COVID-19 case reporting and contact tracing procedures will also continue. Staff are still encouraged to voluntarily report if they test positive for COVID-19 to Occupational Health Services (OHS) via SI-CoronavirusInfo@si.edu. OHS will conduct a full investigation and, if necessary, will place any staff in quarantine.

Additionally, during the last two years the Smithsonian has taken major steps to increase facility health and safety. The Office of Facilities Management and Reliability (OFMR) has been following guidance from the CDC to improve ventilation in Smithsonian facilities and has made changes where possible including increasing outdoor air intake, reducing the amount of air that is recirculated, improving filtration, and replacing the air filters more frequently. High-touch communal areas are being cleaned more frequently, and with the help of Smithsonian’s logistics team, hand sanitizing stations are plentiful and cleaning products are available for staff to regularly sanitize their shared equipment.

We know this will be an adjustment period for us all. Some of us are used to working on site, but in relative solitude. Some of us are used to working exclusively from home. Some of us are excited for these changes, and others are anxious. Please be considerate and respectful of your colleagues as we all manage these changes. If you have specific health and safety concerns, please discuss potential options with your supervisor. If you wish to speak with someone outside your unit, please consider reaching out to the counselors at the Smithsonian Employee Assistance Program or the Smithsonian Ombuds. Similarly, the Occupational Health Services team is always available to answer any health-related questions. Thank you for all you have done for our community, and all you continue to do.

Stay safe, be well, and get vaccinated,
COVID-19 Response Team

How to access the resources mentioned above:

Smithsonian Employee Assistance Program: This program is available to employees only; it is not available to volunteers.
Smithsonian Ombuds: Please call (202) 633-2010 to make an appointment.
Occupational Health Services: Please call 202-633-9355 with inquiries.

Please remember: We do not have a pan-institutional date for volunteers to return to site. Your volunteer supervisor will reach out to you directly when your volunteer program is eligible to return to site safely. Please do not report to your unit until your supervisor reaches out to you.