HSH announces de-escalation of masking

Hot Springs Health (HSH) implemented a de-escalation of their Masking Policy effective Thursday, October 6.

After thorough discussions and review of their defined CDC Community Levels of COVID-19, they determined that HSH is now able to modify masking requirements.

Patients and guests will no longer have to mask up when coming in for procedures, tests, or in most areas of the hospital. Patients/ guests will only be required to wear masks when they are entering a COVID patient room, rooms with isolation precautions indicating a mask is required, or their medical condition is such that their clinical team in the hospital or facility where they are located determines that masking is necessary.

These updated masking policies are contingent on the CDC defined Community Level. COVID-19 Community Levels help individuals and communities decide which prevention actions to take based on the latest information. Each level helps convey how much COVID-19 is impacting your community using data on hospitalizations and cases. Using these data, communities are classified as low, medium, or high.

If Hot Springs County should register as high, they will revert to their prior policy of masking for all patients/guests until the level decreases to medium or low. Hot Springs County is currently rated low.

To view the current rating, please visit the CDC website at: https://www.cdc. gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/covid-by-county.html.

HSH will be employing visual dials that will be at the entrances of all Hot Springs Health facilities denoting the current level.

HSH employees will also be able to take advantage of the updated policy. While masking for employees will not be required in most hallways and general areas, they will still be worn in all patient rooms or if in close contact with patients while providing care or assistance; this includes all clinic and hospital settings.