Press Release
MEDIA CONTACT
Christa Hyson, MPH
Assistant Director, Emergency Response
Public Information Officer
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – READ IN SPANISH
As Health Orders are Removed, Local Hospitals Maintain Safety Measures
Hospitals in the Greater Cincinnati region have carefully evaluated revised guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), state health departments, and other sources such as the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), and have determined hospital staff, visitors, and volunteers will continue to wear masks in healthcare settings, regardless of vaccination status.
It is well recognized that in healthcare settings, extra precautions are necessary to protect our vulnerable patient, staff, and volunteer populations. This means that masks will continue to be worn in all healthcare settings. A healthcare setting is any place where healthcare is delivered and includes, but is not limited to: acute care facilities, long term care facilities, inpatient rehab facilities, nursing homes and assisted living facilities, home healthcare, vehicles where healthcare is delivered, and outpatient facilities such as dialysis centers, physician offices, etc.
We rely on the partnership of our community members to help ensure the safety of our patients, staff, and volunteers, including children who have not yet had the opportunity to be vaccinated. This includes wearing a mask, not visiting if you are sick or have a temperature, handwashing, and following hospital visitation guidelines. Mask wearing and patient visitor guidelines will continue to be monitored and enforced. For the latest information on hospital visitation guidelines, please visit the website or call the hospital that you plan on visiting.
New information presented by CDC and other scientific sources will continue to be evaluated by our hospitals, and changes to these guidelines will be made when appropriate. Our greatest concern is for the health and safety of our patients, employees, and volunteers.
Greater Cincinnati hospitals have adjusted vaccine clinic offerings to match current demand —shifting from large-scale locations to more physician offices and traditional clinical spaces. Additionally, our hospitals are urging everyone, who is eligible, to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccination is the single most effective strategy we have to stop the spread of COVID-19. For more information on vaccine site locations and scheduling please visit: http://testandprotectcincy.com/.
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