Clarification of the Hartman Policy Relating to COVID 19 and Masks
There has been much confusion and concern over the use of masks and their
effectiveness in deterring the spread of COVID 19. It is the company’s position in
line with the latest scientific research that masks are ineffective in stopping the
spread of COVID 19, and that other, better actions are more important in preventing
the spread of the disease.
In an article published in the Epoch Times, on August 5-11, 2020, the author noted
that the scientific case for masks is hardly a consensus. A group of physicians,
writing for the May 2020 New England Journal of Medicine determined that wearing
a mask outside of health care facilities offers little, if any, protection from infection.
On July 16, 2020, in an article in the journal of Pediatrics and Child Health,
researchers found that masks could be responsible for causing more problems than
protection. Researchers concluded that there was “no good evidence that face
masks protect the public against infection with respiratory viruses.” The researchers
went on to conclude that masks may only offer the illusion of protection and many
mask wearers may simply be spreading the disease because of how they use them.
Experiments have shown that surgical and cotton masks do not trap the COVID 19
virus which can be detected on the outer surface of the mask for up to seven days
such that a person wearing a mask may actually be increasing the risk of infecting
others unless the mask are changed frequently and by washing your hands with
each contact with an infected person.
The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons looked at mask efficiency by
healthy people, they concluded that the “wide use of masks by healthy people in
the community setting is not supported by current evidence and carries
uncertainties and critical risks.” The more effective the mask and the prolonged
use of the mask increase the risk of infection. Headaches, respiratory acidosis,
dizziness, anxiety, and decrease in oxygen saturation are associated with prolonged
mask wearing.
Because of this evidence and other studies that also question the effectiveness of
masks in preventing infection, we are NOT requiring employees or anyone entering
our buildings to wear masks. However, it is up to the individual if they choose to
wear a mask; the company does not prohibit persons from wearing a mask, it is
entirely voluntary on the part of employees.
So what does work?
We believe that the evidence strongly suggests that
maintaining social distancing, repeated washing of hands and frequent cleaning and
disinfecting offices are effective in preventing the spread of the Coronavirus.
Accordingly, we encourage employees to take steps to social distance and wash
their hands frequently.
Hartman has set out many hand sanitizer stations
throughout its buildings for employee, tenant and their guest’s use, and we
continue to more frequently clean and disinfect surfaces throughout the day and in
the evening.

 Finally, we believe the orders promulgated by the counties and state are
unconstitutional under the Texas state constitution. We are actively involved in the
lawsuits challenging the orders. In the event any employee or tenant is cited by a
local authority from following our policy, the company will pay any fine on behalf of
the employee or tenant and hire counsel to represent them in any such dispute.
Please refer any calls or contacts to the Office of General Counsel.