BOONE, Iowa—The Boone County Hospital has provided new information about the current policy regarding the wearing of masks at the hospital:
The CDC has released new guidelines for protecting patients and staff from the ongoing transmission of the COVID19 infection. They recommend a more relaxed set of precautions, UNLESS the transmission rate in the community reaches the HIGH (red) level. The Covid transmission rate for Boone County will be published weekly, and signs around the facility will be updated appropriately to reflect the current status.
Effective Thursday, October 6th, masks are not required unless patients are having symptoms or have had a recent exposure to an individual with COVID. Masking is based on the county covid transmission rate which is updated weekly.
Walk-In Clinic patients do not have to wait in their cars any longer, but do need to mask if they are having any respiratory or GI symptoms.
Any time the transmission rate is HIGH, red signs announcing this fact will be posted throughout the Hospital and Clinics. This will be the notice that masks will again be mandatory for all staff, patients, and visitors throughout the facility. Please remember this is a fluid situation and we will continue to monitor and adjust our masking policy based on county transmission rates. Thank you for following these guidelines as they are what makes our organization healthy and prepared to serve our community.
(contributed press release, BCH)
About the Author
