From Tillamook County Community Health Center: In line with other states, including Washington, where respiratory virus positivity rates have declined and are expected to continue to decline, Oregon will introduce mask requirements in health facilities on April 3. to release.
Based on personal choice and need, everyone should be welcome to continue wearing quality masks, even if they are not required in healthcare or other indoor settings. You may choose to continue to require masks in accordance with your own organizational policy. Please check with your health care office for plans in the coming weeks.
Wearing a mask remains an effective way to reduce respiratory virus transmission. If your respiratory illness prevents you from staying at home, wear a mask to reduce the spread of the disease and protect others in indoor settings (grocery stores, health centers, libraries, post offices, etc.). .
Until April 3rd, masks will remain mandatory in healthcare settings.
This is a news release from the Oregon Department of Health regarding the lifting of mask requirements.
Salem, Oregon — The Oregon Department of Health (OHA) today announced that starting April 3, masks will no longer be mandatory for workers, patients and visitors at health facilities.
The OHA, under Oregon Administrative Regulation (OAR) 333-019-1011, mandates workers in health care facilities such as hospitals, mobile clinics, ambulances, outpatient facilities, dental offices, emergency care centers, counseling offices, and school-based health care. We are withdrawing the necessary provisions. Centers, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Places – Wear masks. This requirement is effective from August 2021.
Additionally, Executive Order 22-24 expires on March 6, 2023. With this emergency, the hospital needed the flexibility to meet his surge in respiratory infections, including COVID-19, RSV and influenza.
The decision to end statewide medical mask requirements is in line with decisions of other states, including Washington.
Dean Sidelinger, MD, MSEd., OHA health officer and state epidemiologist, said lifting Oregon’s healthcare mask requirement has shown an overall reduction in circulation of three respiratory pathogens recently. It caused a surge in emergency visits to hospitals, saying it was due to weeks of data.The department and intensive care unit were down last fall, with the positive rate of COVID-19 tests at 10% as of today. expected to continue. The flu test positive rate is 1.2%. Positive rates for RSV tests are 1.6% (antigen tests) and 3.5% (molecular tests).
With a month-long lead-up to the end of Oregon’s healthcare mask requirement, the healthcare system, local public health officials, and other health partners are urging them to adjust policies, training, and procedures to ensure patient safety and It gives you time to prepare for changes, including ensuring continued safety. access. Also, plan for members of the public, especially those at high risk of serious illness (communities of color, tribal communities, rural communities, low-income communities, people with underlying medical conditions, the elderly, parents of vulnerable infants). Provides an opportunity to stand. Health care visits and protective measures.
Wearing a mask in health care facilities and other settings to better protect yourself and the most vulnerable people around you, even if you are at increased risk of serious illness or live with someone at increased risk Masks may still be required in some healthcare settings even after the requirement is lifted.
Masks remain an effective way to reduce transmission of respiratory viruses. People are encouraged to wear masks when they are sick, and individuals, especially those with health conditions that put them at high risk of serious illness from exposure to respiratory viruses, should wear masks wherever they feel comfortable. You have to keep wearing it.
To protect yourself and your family and community, we highly recommend that you keep your vaccinations and boosters up to date.
