WFU to distribute masks in coordination with Mask the City initiative

April 30, 2020

The following message was emailed to faculty and staff on April 30 by Wake Forest Communications and External Relations:

Dear Wake Forest faculty and staff,

Mask the City is a community-wide effort announced on April 21 by Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines to provide access to cloth face masks to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in this area.

Wake Forest is supporting this initiative and will make two cloth masks available at no charge to each Wake Forest faculty and staff member, as well as to each student who is continuing to reside in on-campus housing this semester.  City leaders are encouraging residents to wear the masks and continue social distancing through May 31.

Employees who are currently working on campus in Facilities & Campus Services and University Police will receive masks directly from their supervisors. Students currently living on campus will receive masks directly from the Office of Residence Life and Housing.

For Wake Forest employees who are currently working remotely, masks will be available for pick up Tuesday (May 5) and Wednesday (May 6) from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM at the LJVM Coliseum Box Office. The masks are washable. Employees will need to show their Wake Forest IDs to pick up masks.

The pick-up process for employees:

Employees should enter the LJVM Coliseum parking lot via Deacon Boulevard (see map).  The box office is located outside of the Coliseum, at the front of the main lobby.  Lines will be set up to maintain social distancing.  Please have your Wake Forest ID (DeaconOne Card) with you and ready to show at the ticket window.  A team member will check your name off the list and provide your masks after seeing your Wake Forest ID.

All Wake Forest employees are encouraged to wear masks while in public spaces and any employees on campus are expected to wear masks. Wearing a mask does not replace other preventative measures like staying at home, washing hands and staying six feet away from others.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) currently recommends that everyone wear a mask while in public. The CDC advises that the use of simple cloth face coverings can slow the spread of the virus and prevent people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.

Cloth face masks are not intended to replace personal protective equipment (PPE) – including surgical masks or N95 respirators. Employees who have been issued PPE and trained on the appropriate use should continue to use those masks according to the protocols for their job duties.

If you have questions:

• Email coronavirus@wfu.edu
• Essential employees who are working on campus who have questions should contact the Department of Environmental Health and Safety at wfuehs@wfu.edu or call 336-758- 3427.
• Answers to frequently asked questions about the Mask the City program, including instructions for wearing and washing the masks, can be found here. The masks are being widely dispersed to the community under the program, and many are being provided by employers or other organizations at no cost to recipients.

Thank you for supporting this effort to protect the health and safety of our community.