The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its guidance on the use of face masks in medical offices. The new guidance states that masks are no longer required in a medical office and that face masks should be worn only if a sick individual is present in the office.
When the CDC released its recommend face mask guidelines at the beginning of the pandemic in 2019, the idea was that everyone, healthy or not, should wear a cloth face mask in public to help prevent the increasing transmissions of COVID-19. The CDC’s new guidance is based on the latest scientific evidence, which shows that face masks are not effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19. The CDC also notes that there is no evidence that face masks protect the wearer from COVID-19.
This new update is in line with the CDC’s previous guidelines, which recommended that face masks be worn in public settings, such as grocery stores and pharmacies, to protect others from the risk of COVID-19.
The reasoning behind the change is that the risk of transmission is now low enough that the benefits of wearing a mask do not outweigh the disadvantages.
This is good news for both patients and staff, as it will make the office environment more comfortable and improve communication.
The CDC still recommends that everyone practice good hand hygiene and maintain social distancing, as these remain the best ways to prevent the spread of the virus.
