Question:  I have heard about concerns that wearing a mask for a prolonged period of time can cause you to retain or breathe in more carbon dioxide (CO2) or get less oxygen and this can make you sick.  I even heard about people who had car accidents they felt were due to this issue.  Does mask wearing for a prolonged time cause this?

Yes, as long as staff can maintain 6-foot distancing while eating. There may be need to be fewer people at the table. For everyone's safety it is important to keep distance while eating with coworkers, since masks cannot be worn.

Yes. Certainly, people at greatest risk for spreading COVID-19 are symptomatic people. We need to remember that before symptoms begin, during a period when infected people are “presymptomatic,” they can shed significant amounts of SARS-CoV-2 virus and infect others.

If you see someone not wearing a mask, remind him or her that masking is in place for everyone's protection. If they still refuse to wear a mask, reiterate that our current COVID-19 guidelines state that in order to enter and stay in the building, one must wear a mask. If you need additional support, please see guidelines.

Our commitment to you during this time has been consistent communication. This is the first in a new series intended to get you the answers you're asking for in town halls, in emails and other channels. You keep asking -- we'll keep answering!