CDC Updates Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines; Relaxes Universal Masking for Healthcare Providers

On September 23rd, the CDC released updated interim Infections Prevention and Control Guidelines for all healthcare settings, including nursing homes and home health.  One of the most significant updates includes that when COVID community transmission levels are not high, healthcare facilities could choose not to require universal source control (masking).  However, even if source control is not universally required, it remains recommended for individuals in healthcare settings who:

  • Have suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection or other respiratory infection (e.g., those with runny nose, cough, sneeze); or
  • Had close contact (patients and visitors) or a higher-risk exposure (HCP) with someone with SARS-CoV-2 infection, for 10 days after their exposure; or
  • Reside or work on a unit or area of the facility experiencing a SARS-CoV-2 outbreak; universal use of source control could be discontinued as a mitigation measure once no new cases have been identified for 14 days; or
  • Have otherwise had source control recommended by public health authorities

Individuals and healthcare facilities may choose to continue to use and/or require use of masks based on personal preference, perception of risk, and/or potential for risk exposure to COVID. 

In Ohio, as of today, only Medina and Hamilton counties are not experiencing high rates of COVID transmission according to the CDCs COVID Community Transmission tracker.  Healthcare providers will want to continue to monitor this data as you consider the revised policy and its implications for your practice.

Other key highlights included in the CDC Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines include: 

  • Updated to note that vaccination status is no longer used to inform source control, screening testing, or post-exposure recommendations
  • Updated circumstances when use of source control is recommended
  • Updated circumstances when universal use of personal protective equipment should be considered
  • Updated recommendations for testing frequency to detect potential for variants with shorter incubation periods and to address the risk for false negative antigen tests in people without symptoms
  • Clarified that screening testing of asymptomatic healthcare personnel, including those in nursing homes, is at the discretion of the healthcare facility
  • Updated to note that, in general, asymptomatic patients no longer require empiric use of Transmission-Based Precautions following close contact with someone with SARS-CoV-2 infection
  • Archived the Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations to Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Spread in Nursing Homes and special considerations for nursing homes not otherwise covered in Sections 1 and 2 were added to Section 3: Setting-specific considerations
    • Updated screening testing recommendations for nursing home admissions
  • Clarified the types of long-term care settings for whom the healthcare infection prevention and control recommendations apply