Healthcare systems in the Puget Sound region have updated their joint guidelines for masking in hospitals and outpatient clinics during respiratory illness season. This means local healthcare facilities may require patients, visitors and employees to wear masks when respiratory illnesses such as flu and COVID-19 are circulating widely in the community.
Masking is an effective way to reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses in healthcare settings. These latest guidelines re-affirm the importance of the health and safety of patients and employees, particularly for those who are at high risk of becoming severely ill from COVID-19, influenza (flu) and other respiratory illnesses.
Public Health – Seattle & King County joins other local health jurisdictions in strongly supporting the continued commitment by healthcare organizations to encourage 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 strongly support the masking approach which will help protect the health and safety of patients and healthcare workers. Masking, especially when using high quality, well-fitting masks, reduces the spread of respiratory illness in healthcare settings where people are at greater risk for severe disease receive care. Preventing the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections also preserves the capacity of our healthcare workforce,” said Dr. Eric Chow, Chief of Communicable Disease Epidemiology & Immunization, Public Health – Seattle & King County
“This effort once again highlights the strong regional collaboration between healthcare facilities, public health departments and the Northwest Healthcare Response Network to prioritize the well-being of the communities we serve.”
In September 2023, several healthcare systems across our region joined together to adopt thresholds for requiring masking during respiratory illness season.
Since that time, healthcare facilities have continued their commitment to re-evaluate and update guidelines as new data become available. The latest guidelines use the most recent data to update thresholds for the 2024-2025 season.
Additional information and recommendations for masking in King County is available at Public Health – Seattle & King County’s mask guidance webpage.
Originally posted 10/29/2024