Like these new cadets marching in formation July 13, 2020, at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, everyone on a military installation is now required to wear a mask, even outside. (Mark Lennihan/AP)

By: Karen Jowers

You now have to wear a mask virtually everywhere on military bases — including outdoors

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered new, stricter rules for masks on military installations, requiring virtually everyone to wear a mask even if social distancing, and whether it’s indoors or outdoors.

The memo, issued Thursday, was effective immediately. Austin specifically mentions outdoor shared spaces in the requirements, and specifically mentions practicing social distancing in combination with other preventive actions against COVID-19, including wearing the mask.

Those new rules replace a similar memo issued April 5, 2020, by then-Secretary of Defense Mark Esper. Those previous rules required everyone to wear a mask when they couldn’t maintain six feet of social distance; and it didn’t specifically mention outdoor requirements.

“COVID-19 is one of the deadliest threats our nation has ever faced. As we have done throughout our history, the military will rise to this challenge,” Austin stated in his memo. “It is imperative that we do all we can to ensure the health and safety of our force, our families, and our communities so we can prevail in this fight.”

The primary exception for the mask-wearing is an individual’s home. Others are:

*when an individual is alone in an office with floor-to-ceiling walls with a closed door;

*brief periods of time when eating and drinking while maintain social distancing;

*when a mask must be lowered briefly for identification or security purposes, such as at the installation gate; and when it’s necessary to reasonably accommodate an individual with a disability.