Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 7
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
Recently we were told we had to wear masks while on sector. Following the rules I was wearing a mask; and multiple aircraft could not understand what I was saying. Multiple times I was told to 'Say again' until I pulled the mask down to give the aircraft the transmission. After I pulled the mask down they said they could understand me better. This is a safety issue. If the aircraft can't understand what we are saying and takes the wrong altitude this could be disastrous.Since Coronavirus started we were told we only had to wear masks when we couldn't be socially distanced. What has changed? Why do we have to wear masks all the time even if we are socially distanced?
Center Controller reported communication issues with pilots while wearing a face mask.