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Hi All,
new recommendations for masking in health care:HCW masking update
The HCW masking recommendations have been changed slightly. Live today. This is minimal guidance, so can be adapted for your own context.
Web page link ; Print version of guidance- Update on mask-wearing in healthcare settings: February – May 2023 (docx, 64KB)In brief:
Clinical staff (nursing, medical, allied health staff)
• Providing care to patients with symptoms of acute respiratory virus infections (including suspected or confirmed COVID-19): mask use required. Follow transmission-based precautions (usually this will mean P2/N95 particulate respirator). Where practical to do so, streaming of patients according to risk of acute respiratory virus infection is recommended.
• Providing care to patients in other situations: medical mask recommended in other care situations.
o Note – in very low risk situations where use of mask may impact negatively on care delivery, clinical judgment may be used to remove masks but is recommended only after a risk assessment is performed by the clinician and agreed to by patient.
• Staff only zones and transit areas: medical mask use is encouraged, especially in situations where ventilation is not optimal.Hello Lisa
I believe this is a positive step. Being able to remove masks in very low risk situations is definitely helpful in clinical care. Human emotions expressions are just lost behind the mask. But this requires good sound risk assessment on behalf of the clinician.
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