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News | May 1, 2020

Land and Maritime receives, distributes 1,500 cloth face masks to inhibit virus spread

By Michael Jones DLA Land and Maritime Public Affairs

The Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime received a shipment of approximately 1,500 cloth masks April 23 that are being issued to first responders and other essential members of the workforce as an additional protective measure against the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Providing this augmented level of protection to DLA’s front-line response professionals will continue to ensure timely and sustained logistics support operations vital to the tenants on the Defense Supply Center Columbus installation while helping individuals to minimize the spread of the COVID virus. The immediate intention is to assist members of the workforce who are unable to maintain the 6-foot social distancing guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Both the Department of Defense and DLA have issued guidance to the workforce to wear masks on DOD property, installations and facilities. The CDC has numerous examples on their website for innovative techniques to create personal cloth face masks designed to help meet this DOD requirement.

“To comply with DOD guidance these shipments are taking place throughout the DLA,” said DLA Land and Maritime Commander Navy Rear Adm. John T. Palmer.  “Land and Maritime is focusing efforts to provide additional levels of protection among our associates. We’ve identified Land and Maritime’s detachment operations for priority distribution because of their specific work environments, it’s a little harder for them to navigate the social distancing guidelines throughout daily operations.”

Future plans include provisions for the procurement of additional cloth face masks to sites as DOD and DLA transition to the phased workforce return.