What types of masks are acceptable/unacceptable?

Starting Saturday, March 5, the University at Buffalo will make masks optional on its campuses in most settings:

Students, faculty, staff and visitors, regardless of vaccination status, will no longer be required to wear masks in most settings, indoors or outdoors.
Anyone who wishes to continue wearing a mask in a classroom, office or any other campus space is encouraged to do so.
In keeping with state and federal regulations, masks will continue to be mandatory for everyone aboard UB buses and shuttles and in clinical health care settings (e.g. UB Health Services, Dental School facilities, on-campus testing sites) on campus.
UB faculty, staff and students who work or learn at hospitals, nursing homes, clinics or diagnostic and treatment centers off campus must continue to comply with any site-specific regulations in place.
All campus community members who have regular on-campus contact and are not up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations must continue to participate in weekly surveillance testing, including those with an approved medical or religious exemption.

Remember: There are many reasons that individuals may continue to wear a mask, including those who are:

Unvaccinated
Immunocompromised
Living with someone at higher risk

Please be kind and respectful toward others in our UB community.

Faculty and academic support staff, see Guidance for faculty and academic support staff.

Mask use is an additional layer of protection since COVID-19 vaccines are not perfect. Some masks work better than others to help stop the spread of COVID-19. UB recommends following CDC guidance on proper face masks.

In accordance with updated guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Erie County Department of Health, UB requires all students, employees and visitors—regardless of their vaccination status—to wear a high-quality, tight-fitting, high-filtration mask indoors and in public settings.

Recommended Face Masks

The following recommendations are for non-health care workers:

UB strongly recommends all students, faculty and staff wear a tight-fitting, high-filtration mask such as a N95, KN95 or KF94 mask, that fits well and you are comfortable wearing for a long period of time.
A surgical mask that fits correctly without gaps.
A cloth mask, a surgical mask should be worn underneath it.
A cloth mask that consists of a filter, sanwiched between two layers of dense fabric, that fits correctly.
If you wear glasses, wear a mask that fits tightly over your nose (e.g., with nose wires) to limit fogging.
If you wear a head covering, wear a mask that ties behind your head.

Not Recommended

Masks that do not fit tightly over nose and mouth
Cloth masks that do not consist of a filter, sandwiched between two layers of dense fabric.
Masks made of non-breathable materials (e.g., leather, plastic)
Masks made of loosely woven fabric (i.e., fabric that lets light pass through)
Neck Gaiters
Face Shields

Not Allowed

Masks with exhalation valves or vents, including N95 respirators with exhaust valves
Masks containing slits, valves, or punctures
Scarves, ski masks, balaclavas, or bandanas (if these need to be worn for warmth, they should be worn over the mask, not in lieu of one.)
Turtleneck collars pulled up over the mouth and nose

Should I wear two masks?

If you want to wear a cloth mask, it is strongly recommended that you wear a surgical mask underneath it. When choosing a mask, look at how well it fits and how well it filters the air. Make sure your mask completely covers your nose and mouth and fits snugly against your face. Gaps can let air with respiratory droplets leak in and out around the edges of the mask. Pick a mask with layers to keep your respiratory droplets in and others’ out. A mask with layers will stop more respiratory droplets getting inside your mask or escaping from your mask if you are sick.

If you are wearing a surgical mask but there are gaps on the sides of your face, use of a second well-fitting cloth mask on top of it may improve protection.
A single N95, KN95 or KF94 mask, should be sufficient to protect against the transmission of coronavirus.

Updated February 11, 2022

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