Trinity Health Of New England Updates Masking Policy
May 10, 2023HARTFORD, Conn. -- Trinity Health Of New England today is updating its masking policy for its Massachusetts-based care facilities, making masks optional. Along with risk assessments by its Infection Prevention and Occupational Health teams and guidance from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Trinity Health Of New England’s decision is based on the latest updates from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), which recently announced it is lifting mask requirements for health care settings.
The updated masking policy includes some exceptions, requiring certain individuals to continue to mask:
- Masks are required for individuals who have had a close contact exposure with someone with COVID-19. Masks are required for 10 days following the exposure.
- Masks are required for any individual who has not been vaccinated for the flu during this flu season, until the flu season is declared over.
Optional masking went into effect in Trinity Health Of New England’s Connecticut-based locations on April 26, 2023. The updated masking policy is now in effect in all inpatient units, Emergency Departments (ED), and ambulatory care areas (outpatient facilities) within the Trinity Health Of New England system. All health care workers and providers will continue to wear the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when caring for patients who are designated to be on droplet/airborne precautions.
Trinity Health Of New England’s Infection Prevention and Occupational Health will continue to monitor the clinical impact of COVID-19 to patients and colleagues and will reinstate mandatory masking if needed.