Starting Tuesday, Dec. 5, Providence Swedish will require masks in all areas where patient care is administered.
In a Monday announcement, the health care provider announced that due to a rise in respiratory syncytial virus, influenza and COVID-19 infection rates, masking will be required for patients, caregivers and visitors.
The move applies to both hospitals and clinics. While masking is recommended in most indoor locations, it will be required in:
• Hospital patient rooms and hallways
• Patient exam rooms
• Registration/front desk and check-in areas
• Emergency departments and waiting rooms
• Oncology/cancer waiting rooms
• All clinic locations, including urgent care clinics
Providence will continue to provide masks and hand sanitizer at “self-symptom screening stations.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends masking in health care settings when transmission levels for common respiratory viruses are high.
