The omicron variant of COVID-19 has highly contagious periods two days before infection and three days after symptoms begin, and as a result, Intermountain is updating masking guidelines for caregivers in clinical settings.
Clinical caregivers should follow the masking guidance below. (Caregivers in non-patient-facing areas should continue to follow existing PPE guidelines and wear masks.) View the What PPE to Wear grid for more details.
- For caregivers working in patient-facing areas or with visitors in hospitals and clinics performing standard care (non-COVID care): Continue to wear a procedure mask along with eye protection.
- For caregivers seeing COVID-positive or COVID-suspected patients in the hospital, emergency departments, and urgent care: Wear an N95 respirator while practicing extended use guidelines (see below) plus eye protection or wear a PAPR.
- The use of N95 respirators has increased, and the guideline for how many times your N95 can be reused has changed from a single use to five donning and doffing cycles. More than five donning and doffings on some N95 respirators may impact the integrity of the seal and fit of the respirator. Be sure to check the seal before each use.
- Always wear eye protection in combination with your N95 mask to protect your eyes. Remember, your eyes are mucous membranes also susceptible to splash and aerosol. Protection is defined as a shield (also gives great splash/fluid protection) or google/glasses with protective barrier around the eyes.
- COVID-like illness (CLI) care in outpatient settings: COVID-like illness involves new upper or lower respiratory symptoms. Anyone being evaluated for it may have nasal congestion, sore throat, cough, fever, chills, night sweats, and headache. Chest pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may be present, but are less specific to CLI.
For clinical caregivers at Intermountain Utah, Idaho, and Nevada clinics: Wear a PAPR for in-person visits for COVID or CLI. If you have already been fit tested for an N95 mask, you can use it with extended use (five don/doffs) for CLI, with eye protection. A procedure mask should be worn for most clinical care (not COVID-like illness or COVID) with eye protection.
- If available to you, expand video visits for all patients, especially those with respiratory complaints and fevers. Talk with your practice leadership.
- Additional PAPRs will be distributed to clinics over the next few weeks, and we may be purchasing more of them.
Visitors and patients (when feasible) should always wear masks.
Intermountain continually evaluates CDC guidelines for PPE, along with our current community infection rates, inventory, and product availability as items are reordered. Use recommendations will be reevaluated if the availability for any PPE item changes. We now have adequate supplies and will continue to add to our supply.