On February 25, the CDC updated community mask use guidance in light of decreasing case counts of COVID-19. The CDC now has separate recommendations for masking depending on the severity of community spread in one’s county. Click here to read the new guidance and click here to check the national map denoting which level of masking is currently recommended for one’s county.

Ohio Council members should note that this new guidance does not supersede or change the CDC’s existing mask guidance for healthcare settings. According to the CDC, the new community level recommendations “do not apply in healthcare settings, such as hospitals and nursing homes.” The agency says that healthcare providers should continue to use community transmission rates and follow the CDC’s infection prevention and control recommendations for healthcare settings.

While the CDC does not provide a detailed explanation of the term “healthcare settings” for the purposes of this guidance, The Ohio Council encourages members to use the categorization and consider the guidance when determining agency-specific masking policies. The CDC’s recommendations are guidance only and are not enforceable through regulatory means. Ultimately, compliance with the CDC healthcare setting mask guidance is a matter of organizational policy. Providers should also take care to continue to comply with any county or local mask mandates that remain in effect.