This issue is an interesting case study on how to formulate policy is a quickly changing environment. We also are in Texas and a part of a public university. Over the past 60 days we have moved from having masks required for all staff and visitors unless working alone in your own office, through requiring masks when working with the public, to no masks required for staff or visitors except as required for children's programs. These changes have been driven by state and institutional policies as conditions have improved.
The public has been polite and cooperative about transitioning along with us. Masks are an individual choice but it is rare now to see any visitor with a mask. In our case, that may have a good deal to do with the fact that we are both an indoor and outdoor facility. With both national and state level guidance loosening across the country, it seems that the best plan is to formulate our policies according to local (or regional) conditions and guidance as conditions seems to still have a wide variance across the country.
Best of luck to all,
Deborah
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Deborah Bigness
Manager of Site Operations, Lubbock Lake National Historic Landmark
Museum of Texas Tech University
Lubbock TX
deborah.bigness@ttu.edu------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 06-01-2021 07:58 AM
From: Stephanie Arduini
Subject: Mask policies after CDC lifting for vaccinated persons
In Virginia, the governor lifted mask mandates in mid-May (and made the announcement rather quickly and effective the next day, leaving little room to prep). We kept our mask mandate for an extra two weeks to evaluate our policies, talk to staff, and talk to area colleagues. Ultimately, given the rates in Virginia, the rates and statuses of staff vaccinations, and the policies of other area organizations, we lifted our mask mandate and capacity restrictions this past Saturday (May 29). By that point, staff were expressing higher -- though still not complete -- confidence and comfort in removing the mask mandate.
We switched masking to "Masks optional for COVID vaccinated guests" and "Masks Required for unvaccinated guests." Fully vaccinated staff also had the option of wearing masks, and many are still doing so until they are comfortable, and enhanced cleaning and plexi barriers at desks remain in place in public areas. It's been a relief for frontline staff also not to need to enforce masking policies. We're tracking visitor behavior and staff comfort, in case we need to alter anything. So far most visitors are keeping their masks, but it's decreasing each week.
We also are still requiring masks for any student- or youth-facing program, both of all participants and staff. We're following our state Department of Health guidelines for masks at schools for our protocol (since masking varies at schools by state), which is similar to what other area organizations are doing.
Happy to talk more if needed.
Stephanie
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Stephanie Arduini
Deputy Director, and Director, Edward L. Ayers Center for Civil War & Emancipation Studies
American Civil War Museum
Richmond VA
Original Message:
Sent: 05-31-2021 10:27 AM
From: Rowena Houghton Dasch
Subject: Mask policies after CDC lifting for vaccinated persons
We are in Texas, where the state government has not been helpful to businesses, throwing the onus on us rather than to take a position of accountability. We said we would follow the CDC, and we all know what has happened with their policies, and then we said we would follow the City of Austin, and then they dropped the mask mandate.
Our new policy is that staff must be masked when in public-facing areas (we are all vaccinated and do not require masks in our offices), and all children's programming continues to be distanced. We have lifted the mask mandate for those who are vaccinated, and that is by the honor code.
I have noticed that probably 80% of our visitors continue to wear masks. I think having our staff model that behavior makes people feel better about leaving their masks on.
I agree it's a tough situation.
Rowena Dasch
Neill-Cochran House Museum
Austin, TX
Sent from my iPhone
Original Message:
Sent: 5/28/2021 12:55:00 PM
From: Janeen Trevillyan
Subject: RE: Mask policies after CDC lifting for vaccinated persons
I agree- it's really confusing, especially since OSHA has not yet chimed in on it. We just sent out a note to our volunteers explaining why we have not lifted the mask requirement; the short version is pretty much what others have said: our volunteers are in the most vulnerable age group, and we have no way of knowing who is vaccinated. Our priority is keeping our staff (volunteer & paid) safe, so we prefer to use caution. We are not in a hurry to eliminate masks; our response was more so they could explain to visitors if need be.
Here is a really good article on the subject:https://laborandemploymentlawupdate.com/2021/05/14/i-dont-want-to-wear-a-maskpart-3-land-of-the-mask-free-and-home-of-the-brave/
Also included in the note was a survey about when THEY would feel comfortable lifting the mask requirement.
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Janeen Trevillyan
Director
Sedona Heritage Museum
Sedona AZ
Original Message:
Sent: 05-24-2021 05:09 PM
From: Cleveland Johnson
Subject: Mask policies after CDC lifting for vaccinated persons
I'm surprised not to have found any discussion here about how institutions, since the CDC's recent lifting of mask requirements for vaccinated persons, are dealing with the resulting confusion. I actually find this issue the most difficult matter I've confronted in the past year and a half. (When there were webinars running out my ears last year, regarding questions of reopening to the public, etc., there seems to be a confused? silence now on this present issue.) Later this week, New Jersey will be the last state to lift its indoors mask mandate, so I would love to know how this is playing out at museums elsewhere. My frontline staff are strongly against any loosening of our mask requirement, but a poll of our members shows that two-thirds would not hesitate visiting the museum, if we lifted the mask requirement. I'm inclined to go with that data point, but would love to hear from other institutions. (Additionally, are your mask policies for on-site staff the same as for visitors?)
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Cleveland Johnson, Ph.D.
President/CEO
Morris Museum
Morristown NJ
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