FOR CITY TIMES

MARSHFIELD – Marshfield Clinic Health System will no longer require patients and staff to wear masks under most circumstances beginning Monday, April 17.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently announced it is planning for the federal Public Health Emergency for COVID-19 to expire May 11.

The Health System continually monitors state and regional COVID-19 trends, including rates of hospitalizations and community transmission, to determine if policies can be adjusted. In mid-March, the Health System lifted all visitor restrictions and removed COVID-19 testing requirements on hospital admissions and preoperative surgical cases. 

“Patient, visitor and employee safety is our number one priority for those entering and working in our facilities, and every COVID-19 guideline we put in place during the pandemic was for their protection,” said Dr. Samantha Klebe, chief medical officer, Marshfield Clinic Health System. “Given the current trends showing lower rates in hospitalizations and community transmission, we believe we’re in a position to adjust some of those guidelines while maintaining a high level of safety and precaution”

People may still choose to wear masks, and the Health System will support their choice to wear one and staff will wear a mask if requested. Departments that serve immunocompromised or specialty patients will return to pre-COVID policy and procedures for masking. Departments and medical procedures that wear masks as part of its normal practice, such as during surgeries, will continue to do so. Masks are encouraged for patients with symptoms consistent with a COVID-19 infection, a COVID-19 exposure or other infectious respiratory illnesses.

The Health System will continue to monitor COVID-19 activity to determine if guidelines need to be put back in place.