Healthcare organizations update masking guidelines to protect patients and healthcare workers

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.

Kitsap Public Health District 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. 

“People should never have to worry about getting or spreading infections in healthcare settings that we all — including our most vulnerable community members — rely on to stay healthy. We applaud our healthcare partners for their commitment to protecting patients and employees." — Dr. Gib Morrow, Health Officer, Kitsap Public Health District

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.

You can read more about the current masking guidelines in this statement.