Practice remains to be recommended
News release
Universal masking is recommended at all Great Plains Health facilities,
although no longer required for patients, visitors and employees at the
present time.
This
decision comes after consideration of community transmission of
COVID-19 in Lincoln County. Transmission is no longer at a high level right now and
has been sustained for two weeks, according to the CDC’s COVID Data Tracker.
Should
community transmission rise to a high level again, required
universal masking will be immediately reinstated. Any updates will be
shared through
social media and by staff at the Great Plains Health facilities that
patients visit.
Great
Plains Health will continue to offer masks at all entrances for those
who wish to wear one, or if required universal masking policy is
reinstated.
Great
Plains Health follows rigorous infection control standards and ongoing
mitigation strategies that meet requirements set by regulatory agencies,
including
the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Adhering to the
regulations enables GPHealth to provide care to patients under the
Medicare and Medicaid programs.
“Patient
safety is our top priority, and masking was a key tool in ensuring that
we helped protect vulnerable populations within our facilities
throughout the
pandemic,” said Ivan Mitchell, chief executive officer, Great Plains
Health. “Data indicates we are at the point where we can re-consider
masking requirements, while still utilizing rigorous mitigation
strategies.”
Visitors should monitor symptoms and refrain from visiting if they:
- Have a positive test for COVD-19 in the last 10 days
- Have a pending COVID-19 test
-
Have
symptoms of COVID-19, including chills, cough, shortness of breath or
difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss
of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny
nose, nausea or vomiting or diarrhea.
Visitors
are permitted, but should still mask, if they have had close contact
with someone with COVID-19, for 10 days after their exposure.
Patients
should still mask if they have suspected or confirmed COVID-19
infection or other respiratory infections with symptoms such as runny
nose, coughing
or sneezing.
