Clackamas County Public Health recommends considering masking guidance from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Oregon Health Authority (OHA). The best way to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19 is to stay up to date with COVID vaccinations. Masks also decrease spread of COVID-19, as well as the many other respiratory viruses that can disrupt our lives, like flu, RSV and other cold viruses.
Everyone should feel welcome to continue to wear a mask based on their personal choice and need even if it’s not required. Those who are at high risk of severe disease and hospitalization from COVID-19 are recommended to continue wearing masks in indoor public settings, including people:
- Who are unvaccinated
- With compromised immune systems
- With underlying health conditions
- Are 65 and older
- Living with others at high risk of severe disease
Masking in Health Care Settings
OHA lifted masking requirements in health care settings as of April 3, 2023. Healthcare settings are any place where physical, dental, or behavioral health care is delivered. This includes primary care clinics, school health rooms and counselor offices, massage and chiropractic offices, and WIC clinics. Learn more here.
The vaccination requirement for healthcare workers in Oregon has not changed.
Long-term care facilities are required to follow regulatory guidance as outlined by licensing and regulatory agencies. Clackamas County Health provides the following recommendations for disease prevention and outbreak control, which are not regulatory:
During normal operations (not in respiratory outbreak status):
- Follow regulatory guidance for universal masking as outlined by licensing and regulatory bodies.
- Create facility policies related to universal masking. For example, create a policy with criteria describing when universal masking may be implemented, such as during respiratory outbreaks or when levels of influenza, COVID-19, or RSV are very high in the community
- Ensure all individuals feel welcome and comfortable wearing a mask, even if it is not required.
- Establish and maintain a respiratory protection program (toolkit for LTCF here).
- Continue to adhere to standard and transmission-based precautions as needed for all residents.
During respiratory outbreaks such as COVID-19 and influenza:
- It is recommended that universal masking continues for the duration of a respiratory outbreak to decrease disease transmission.
- Wearing a NIOSH approved N95 respirator as source control is the preferred method of universal masking during COVID-19 outbreaks.
