ICHS and Northwest Healthcare Response Network urge masking this winter
International Community Health Services (ICHS) and other healthcare organizations across the Puget Sound are urging that everyone masks in healthcare settings.
We know masking works. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, masks were shown to protect patients and providers in healthcare setting where great numbers of high-risk people seek care.
The Northwest Healthcare Response Network (NWHRN) Acute Infectious Disease Masking Workgroup announced in a joint letter, 'Masking Consensus Statement for Acute Care and Outpatient Clinics 2024-2025 Respiratory Season' the importance of masking during this winter due to high rates of respiratory viruses.
IconRespiratory viruses, including COVID-19, pose an ongoing health risk to patients and healthcare workers that include acute and long-term adverse health outcomes. Masking policies have an important role to play in reducing healthcare associated infections especially during periods of higher community burden.
ICHS joins with our partners by requiring universal masking by all visitors to ICHS clinics.