Masking & Self-Screening Policy
As of May 11, 2023, in accordance with Mass Department of Public Health (DPH) requirements and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, Cape Cod Healthcare (CCHC) no longer requires patients, staff or visitors to wear face coverings while in CCHC facilities – with the below exceptions.
Masks will be required in all CCHC facilities when patients, staff or visitors:
- Have suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection or other respiratory infection (e.g., those with runny nose, cough, sneeze); or
- Had close contact (patients and visitors) or a higher-risk exposure with someone with COVID-19 infection, for 10 days after their exposure; or
- Are on a unit or area of the facility experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak; or
- Have otherwise been recommended by public health authorities to utilize source control through masking (respiratory precautions); or
- If community transmission (as defined by CDC) is “High”, all CCHC facilities will require face coverings.
Patients, staff and visitors may choose to wear a face covering while in CCHC facilities and facemasks will continue to be available. Those who have a medical condition that puts them at risk of complications of COVID-19, including immune disorders, active chemotherapy or are taking immune suppressive medications should consider wearing a face mask.
Self-Screening
Patients and visitors will be required to self-screen for respiratory illness upon entering a CCHC facility and be required to wear a face covering if they screen positive. Facemasks will be available at all entrances.
