News Article

New CDC/CMS Guidance Ends Some Indoor Masking Requirements in Long-Term Care Facilities

September 27, 2022

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have released updated guidance regarding masking in long-term care facilities.  Under the new guidance, nursing homes in counties where COVID-19 community transmission is not high can choose not to require visitors to wear face coverings or masks while in the facility, except during an outbreak.  The guidance states that in nursing homes in counties where COVID-19 community transmission is high, "everyone in a healthare setting should wear face coverings or masks."  In its guidance, the CDC notes that "updates were made to reflect the high levels of vaccine-and infection-induced immunity and the availability of effective treatments and prevention tools."

See the CMS and CDC guidance.