Updated DOL Guidance on Masking and

Testing

This message is intended for all DOL employees and contractors.

Dear Colleagues,

As we have promised throughout this pandemic, we are adapting our policies and guidance to reflect the latest public

health guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Safer Federal Workforce Task Force.

Effective Monday, March 7, the Department of Labor’s (DOL) protocols on masking and screening testing are being

updated, consistent with the CDC’s updated COVID-19 Community Level (Low, Medium, or High) for the location of the

facility. The CDC updates Community Levels on a weekly basis.

The updated DOL protocols are as follows:

For DOL facilities that are located in a county with a Low COVID-19 community level:

Masks are NOT required in the Federal facility for employees, contractors, and visitors, regardless of vaccination

status.

Screening testing is NOT required for employees who are not fully vaccinated.

For DOL facilities that are located in a county with a Medium COVID-19 community level:

Masks are NOT required in the Federal facility for employees, contractors, and visitors, regardless of vaccination

status.

Screening testing IS required for employees who are not fully vaccinated.

For DOL facilities that are located in a county with a High COVID-19 community level:

Masks ARE required in the Federal facility for employees, contractors, and visitors, regardless of vaccination status.

Screening testing IS required for employees who are not fully vaccinated.

Even when masking is not required, for example, if a facility is located in an area with Low or Medium COVID-19

Community Level, you may choose to continue to wear a mask according to your personal situation or to be sensitive to

coworkers.

Where a locality (city, county, or state) imposes more protective pandemic-related safety requirements, those

requirements should be followed in DOL facilities within that locality.

Check your Community Level

LABORNET

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On a weekly basis each Friday, DOL will use the most current CDC COVID-19 Community Levels and local mask

mandate information to update the DOL Masking Requirements by Location page. This page will indicate the

Community Level and masking requirement for each DOL facility for the following week. The website reflects the

requirements that will be in effect starting Monday, March 7, so please take a look to help plan for the week ahead.

Please also plan to check this website regularly to determine if your work location requires masking and/or screening

testing. For more details on testing, please check the DOL testing guidance page, which has been updated to reflect

changes to screening testing requirements.

Additional Updates

The DOL COVID-19 Coordination Team will make updates to the Workplace Safety Plan and other resources on

LaborNet to reflect these policy changes. The Business Operations Center will post updated signage as soon as possible

at the Frances Perkins Building. We expect GSA will post appropriate signage at building entrances and in common

areas of federally-owned, GSA-controlled facilities.

This guidance does not affect the Department’s other workplace safety protocols, including masking or testing

requirements for people with COVID-19 symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19.

Those individuals must follow all protocols related to isolation and quarantine as described in DOL's Workplace Safety

Plan. If you have concerns about how this change in guidance will affect you due to a medical condition, you can request

a reasonable accommodation.

If you have questions, please raise them with your supervisor or you can email .

Thank you,

Rachana

Rachana Desai Martin (she/her)

Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management 

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management

U.S. Department of Labor

Questions? View the LaborNet page or email us at 

Posted: March 4, 2022