Kaiser Permanente reintroduces mask mandate for staff in Washington state

Kaiser Permanente employees who work in person with patients now must wear masks.

It’s the latest new mask mandate instituted in Washington state health care facilities as they deal with wintertime illnesses.

Kaiser Permanente instituted the requirement on Friday, according to spokesperson Linnae Riesen. Patients in Kaiser facilities are strongly encouraged but not required to wear masks.

According to Kaiser Permanente’s revised masking guidance, the requirement applies to all “staff and care team members in all patient care and public spaces” of their medical facilities.

Some patient care settings and waiting areas require masks for patients and visitors, but most Kaiser health care settings do not require masks for nonemployees unless they show symptoms of respiratory illness.

“Masks are not required but are strongly recommended for patients and visitors who do not have respiratory symptoms and are visiting low-risk areas of our medical facilities,” reads the guidance.

Rather than COVID-19, the primary culprit for the return to masking is RSV, another respiratory virus. According to data collected through Dec. 16, RSV makes up 0.8% of hospitalizations statewide.

This story was originally published December 27, 2023 at 1:39 PM with the headline "Kaiser Permanente reintroduces mask mandate for staff in Washington state."