PORTLAND, Oregon — Starting Monday, state mask mandates in healthcare settings will be a thing of the past in Oregon and Washington.
State health officials announced impending changes about a month ago in a concerted effort to end one of the pandemic’s most entrenched restrictions.
The decision went like this state health officials While cases of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus infection are declining, all cases of COVID-19 are also trending downward, he said. We recognize that the lifting of mask obligations in medical settings will bring mixed feelings.
“For many people … this is a big positive step forward from COVID,” said Sidelinger. “For others, especially those with chronic illnesses or compromised immune systems, we face this decision with some trepidation.”
Last month, all individual healthcare providers adjusted their masking guidelines, which went into effect on April 3rd.
“We wanted to ensure the safety of all our patients and to respect others,” said Portland Urgent Care staff member Teri Dantzler.
Danzler said that starting Monday, patients with cough and cold symptoms will continue to be required to wear masks when visiting the hospital. and it was shown.
“This was an amazing statistic for us because not a single staff member we knew had COVID from a patient walking in the door,” Danzler said. I’m here.
legacy health We will continue to require masks in certain areas and situations, including around oncology, transplants, and medically vulnerable patients, and whenever a patient or family member asks to wear a mask. OsuKaiser, Peace Health, Providence Health & Services All similar adjustments are being made by asking patients with symptoms of respiratory illness to continue wearing masks.
As the public moves into the next post-pandemic phase, health officials and providers said it’s important that people stay vigilant and always be considerate of others.
“Now that we’re wearing it’s just common sense [masks] Danzler said. “We know it helps.”
