JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Naval Air Station Jacksonville and Naval Station Mayport announced Tuesday masks are no longer required on base―with a few exceptions.
The mandatory indoor mask requirement will be relaxed for fully vaccinated service members, federal employees, onsite contractor employees, and visitors of facilities owned, leased or otherwise controlled by DOD.
Unvaccinated service members, federal employees and onsite contractor employees, are still required to wear a mask in indoor settings.
A military spokesperson credits high vaccination rates among military members and civilian personnel and a steep decline in new cases of COVID-19 for its decision to loosen the existing mask mandate.
“Getting to this point has been a concerted effort by every member of this installation, military and civilian, and everyone deserves credit for pushing the numbers down so that we can, finally, take off our masks,” NAS Jacksonville Commanding Officer Capt. Jeffrey Hill said in a statement.
Masks will still be required at Naval Hospital, Branch Medical Clinic Jacksonville and base Post Office regardless of vaccination status.
Additionally, mask mandates will remain in effect for employees of the Navy Exchange, Commissary, and Child Development Center.