Mass Gen Brigham ends mask requirement

Mass email | 5-5-23 | Mass General Brigham Patient Gateway

[raccoonradio]

Dear Patient: You may have seen that the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency ends on May 11, 2023. This means that many hospital policies made during the pandemic are changing. This message explains the changes happening across all Mass General Brigham facilities.

Masking

Masks have been important during the pandemic. At this point in time, however, universal masking is no longer needed. This is due to many factors, including the availability of vaccines and treatments.

With the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, Mass General Brigham will end universal masking at all our hospitals, clinics, and other facilities starting on May 12, 2023.

Patients are still required to wear a mask if they:

Have a fever or other flu-like symptoms Have a known COVID-19 infection and are in their isolation period Have a known exposure to COVID-19 within the last 10 days Masks will still be available at hygiene stations. These stations are located at our entrances. Hygiene stations may also be in other locations such as clinics. Our mask can be worn by itself or over your home mask. For more information, please see our Frequently Asked Questions.

Please note: Broader masking may be needed again in the future. We will inform you if our policies change.

Symptom Screening

During the pandemic, we have been actively screening patients for COVID-19 symptoms before visits. Starting May 12, 2023, we will no longer ask patients and visitors screening questions before a visit.

However, please contact your care team before an in-person visit if: You develop any of the following symptoms: Fever or chills Cough, congestion, or runny nose Vomiting or diarrhea New skin rash (with fever) OR You are diagnosed with or exposed to COVID-19 within 10 days of an appointment Visitor Policy

Visitors no longer need to mask or be screened for symptoms. However, visitors should postpone their visit if they are sick.

[raccoonradio]

About time

[rockabyebaby]

It doesn’t mean anything, those who are mentally ill will still wear masks and stand 80 feet away from everyone else. I see it in grocery stores and Walmart all the time.

[George from New England]

Do I detect a sense of sadness in the tone ?

[Grampa Dave]

2 Northern California observations this past week re masks:

1. The big PPO made masks optional for patients,visitors and staff. Zero docs in the eye clinic were wearing masks.*

2. Basically: No/zero clerks in any stores wore masks. The # of Karens seemed to be less in every store and the clinic.

*My wife’s eye doctor is in his early 60’s, and he could not last the full shift wearing a mask. No problem with 0 masks.

[Gay State Conservative]

I spent a night there earlier this week. I wandered the ward without a mask and nobody said anything to me.

[Wdempsey]

Quacks....goobermunt stooges.

[Allegra]

Masks have been important during the pandemic. At this point in time, however, universal masking is no longer needed.

It never was, power-trippers.

[Gay State Conservative]

Actually,having worked in a large,very famous,hospital for decades I can see the desirability of masks at health care institutions. As you're walking down the hallways of a hospital you can't be sure who you might pass who has a weakened immune system...bad lungs....etc.

And I mean *only* health care facilities....not office buildings,airplanes,subway cars,movie theaters,etc,etc.

[Gay State Conservative]

See Post #8

[billorites]

Shouldn’t be too hard to identify an alternative form of virtue signalling.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

My wife’s doctor is a member of Mass General Brigham Physicians, with a clinic in Concord. I drove her for a visit a couple of weeks ago, and they had a sign saying masks were required. I forgot mine. (I’ve made it a habit to keep one in my pocket.) I told the receptionist, and asked if she could give me one. She was nice about it, had to go some cabinet down the hall, and take one out. She said that the sign was just for people who worried about it, and they didn’t enforce it. I said I would wear it out of consideration for people who were sensitive about it.

[EC Washington]

What will they do with the Gestapo security guards who screamed at people for not wearing a mask over their nose?

[raccoonradio]

So supposedly a week from today at least
they at least drop the requirement.
Most of my medical is Beth Israel Lahey
but I have podiatrist and ophthalmologist in MA General network. Did have to mask
up for pod. yesterday

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

All I can say is that in my one encounter with Mass General Brigham they didn’t take the mask ukase seriously, and they were reasonable, not hysterical.