Did you find this answer helpful? Subscribe to keep up with all things Lifelong Learning.
I work at a Goodwill that is spacious and has AC. I wear a mask when customers are in the store during business hours but take it off when among my coworkers in the backroom or breakroom. Is that ok?
As we enter into the colder months of the year with fall and then winter, we can expect a number of respiratory viruses to circulate and cause illnesses, such as influenza, RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus), adenovirus, rhinovirus, coronavirus, and Covid. The transmission of all these viruses can be reduced through wearing a mask when infectious.
During the pandemic, outbreaks occurred among hospital staff taking a respite during a break in the breakroom (when they removed their masks) and it was not common during duty when they were wearing their masks. So, I would not definitively assume that the backroom or breakroom is “safe”. It may be the most unsafe place because that is where people congregate.
On the other hand, if everyone seems to be without any symptoms (or recent exposures to Covid), then you can probably remove the mask in the backroom or breakroom. However, whenever there are people congregating indoors there can be a risk of transmitting a respiratory virus.
