Universal Masking in Health Care Settings: A Pandemic Strategy Whose Time Has Come and Gone, For Now.

Shenoy, Erica S; Babcock, Hilary M; Brust, Karen B; Calderwood, Michael S; Doron, Shira; Malani, Anurag N; Wright, Sharon B; Branch-Elliman, Westyn · Ann Intern Med · 2023

editorial · Level V

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Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, the use of facemasks has been mandated in all health care settings for individuals older than 2 years, whether present as health care personnel, patients, or visitors. In this commentary, a group of health care epidemiologists, infectious diseases physicians, and researchers argue for the withdrawal of the universal masking policy given the current status of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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