Healthcare systems in Puget Sound updated their guidelines for masking in hospitals and outpatient clinics during respiratory illness season. This year’s thresholds will consider the overall burden of respiratory illnesses that include COVID-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as well as other respiratory illness infections.
Local healthcare facilities will develop masking policies for patients, visitors, and employees in healthcare settings based on respiratory illness levels in the community. Masking is an effective way to reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses in healthcare settings.
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department joins other local health jurisdictions in supporting the continued commitment by healthcare organizations to encourage appropriate masking in hospitals and clinics. Masking reduces the spread of disease, protects vulnerable patients and healthcare workers, and helps ensure healthcare facilities maintain capacity to serve our communities.
“We appreciate the continued efforts of our healthcare partners to keep staff healthy, maintain healthcare capacity, and protect patients – especially those who are more vulnerable to respiratory illnesses such as infants, people with weakened immune systems, and older people,” said Dr. James Miller, Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department Health Officer. “I am really pleased with the updated measurement approach this year and am grateful to our epidemiologists and to our partners at Seattle King County Public Health, Snohomish County Health Department, other local health departments, and the Washington State Department of Health for all their work to ensure that healthcare partners and the public have access to relevant and up-to-date data on respiratory illnesses.”
You can read more about the current masking guidelines and local healthcare organizations’ commitment to keeping our community safe in this statement.