Puget Sound region health systems have updated joint guidelines for wearing masks in hospitals and outpatient clinics during respiratory disease season. This means local health care facilities may require patients, visitors, and employees to wear masks if a respiratory disease such as influenza or COVID-19 is prevalent in the community. It means that there is.
Masks are an effective way to reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses in healthcare settings. These updated guidelines reaffirm the importance of the health and safety of our patients and employees, especially those at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19, influenza, and other respiratory illnesses. I am.
Public Health – Seattle and King County joins other local health jurisdictions in strongly supporting health care providers’ continued efforts to encourage mask-wearing in hospitals and clinics. Masking reduces the spread of disease, protects vulnerable patients and health care workers, and helps maintain the ability of health care facilities to serve the community.
“We strongly support masking approaches that help protect the health and safety of patients and healthcare workers. Preventing the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections maintains the capacity of healthcare workers. Dr. Eric Chow, Director of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Immunization at the Seattle and King County Department of Public Health.
“This initiative once again highlights the strong regional collaboration between health care facilities, public health departments, and the Northwest Medical Response Network to prioritize the well-being of the communities we serve.”
In September 2023, several health systems in the region collaborated to adopt standards requiring masks during respiratory disease season.
Since then, healthcare facilities have continued their efforts to reevaluate and update guidelines as new data becomes available. The latest guidelines update thresholds for the 2024-2025 season using the latest data.
Additional information and recommendations regarding masks in King County are available on the Public Health – Seattle and King County Mask Guidance webpage.
First posted: October 29, 2024
