Face Coverings (Masks) No Longer Required at Audubon County Memorial Hospital and Clinics.
According to the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) “The move to ease up on masking reflects current conditions at this phase of the coronavirus pandemic, including widespread immunity through vaccination and prior infection as well as better access to testing and treatments.”
Individuals should still wear face coverings if they wish or if they are personally at high risk such as those who are immunocompromised. And regardless of local conditions, they should mask if they have COVID-19 symptoms or a positive test or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19. Masks will still be made available at the front entrances of the building and in clinical departments for those individuals who would still prefer to wear a mask.
Healthcare organizations in low to moderate risk communities are approved to discontinue the use of universal mask wearing. Audubon County is currently listed at low risk according to the CDC. Hospital officials will monitor the county’s COVID risk status weekly. If the county becomes a high-risk community ACMH will re-institute mask wearing until the county is no longer at high risk.
“We want to give people a break from things like mask-wearing,” said CDC Director Rochelle Wilensky at a news briefing Friday. But, she added, new risk guidelines that the agency is implementing will help people know when to reach for masks again if conditions warrant it.
Individual-Level Prevention Steps You Can Take Regardless of the COVID-19 Community Level:
- Stay up to date on vaccination, including recommended booster doses.
- Avoid contact with people who have suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
- Follow recommendations for isolation if you have suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
- Follow the recommendations for what to do if you are exposed to someone with COVID-19.
- If you are at high risk of getting very sick, talk with a healthcare provider about additional prevention actions.