03/03/2023
Mask mandate ends in healthcare on April 3rd. This includes all massage settings. Individual businesses can still decide to require masking.
Our business will change to “masking is optional”. From that date on, masking will always be optional, and if you want to mask, or want your massage therapist to mask, then we will gladly provide masks free of charge.
During cold and flu season, Brandi will continue to mask, and if there are major outbreaks, we might require masking short term here and there.
We are looking forward to finding out what many of you actually look like, since so many people that we treat have only been in since masking began, we haven’t actually seen your full faces before! 🤣
Brandi is also looking forward to not having to wear as many layers of PPE when working, since it really does make doing such a physical job even more exhausting!
Effective April 3, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) will end the Secretary of Health Mask Order, which currently requires universal masking in healthcare, long-term care, and adult correctional facilities for people age 5 and older.
DOH infection prevention and control guidance continues to recommend masks for patients, healthcare providers, and visitors in healthcare settings. Licensed healthcare facilities are required to have infection prevention policies and programs consistent with CDC guidance.
Several worker protection requirements enforced by the state’s Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) remain in effect, including that employees and contractors may choose to use facemasks or other personal protective equipment (PPE) on the job without employer retaliation. Additionally, under the state Health Emergency Labor Standards Act (HELSA) rules, several key worker protections remain in place until the federal pandemic response declaration ends May 11.
The current Secretary of Health Mask Order will remain in place until 11:59pm on April 2. Local or tribal governments, facilities, and providers may choose to continue to require masks in these or other settings.
Read more at https://doh.wa.gov/newsroom/masking-requirements-healthcare-long-term-care-and-correctional-facilities-end-april-3