Standards and Guidelines: SG for use of Face Covering
Date Implemented:	7/07/2023	Date Reviewed/ Revised:	7/07/2023	Reviewed/ Revised By:

Standard:

The facility will utilize facial coverings/face masks only as required to prevent the spread of infection or as directed by local regulatory agencies including the local Department of Health, the CDC or other governmental agencies as appropriate

Guidelines:

• The facility may choose to require a resident to wear a facial covering only when the resident is in a common area of the facility and is exhibiting signs or symptoms of or has a diagnosed infectious disease that can be spread through droplet or airborne transmission.
• The facility may choose to require a visitor to wear a facial covering only when the visitor is:
• Exhibiting signs or symptoms of or has a diagnosed infectious disease that can be spread through droplet or airborne transmission,
• In sterile areas of the health care setting or an area where sterile procedures are being performed,
• In an in-patient or clinical room with a resident who is exhibiting signs or symptoms of or has a diagnosed infectious disease that can be spread through droplet or airborne transmission, or
• When visiting a resident whose treating health care practitioner has diagnosed the resident with or confirmed a condition affecting the immune system in a manner which is known to increase risk of transmission of an infection from employees without signs or symptoms of infection to a resident and whose treating practitioner has determined that the use of facial coverings is necessary for the resident’s safety.

(3) Residents that require isolation based on an active infection and/or a compromised immune system will have signage placed on the outside of the room door identifying the type of isolation and alerting team members/providers and visitors what PPE is required for entering the room including face masks.

(4) If a resident with an active infection requiring droplet precautions requests to opt out of wearing the requested facial covering/face mask they may do so by maintaining droplet precaution isolation in their room during the infectious phase of their infection.

(5) If a resident is not actively infected and requests to opt out of wearing the requested facial covering/face masks they may do so once they have been educated on the risks of possible exposure. Education will be documented in the electronic medical record and care plan will be updated with resident preferences.

(6) Visitors who request to opt out of wearing facial coverings/ face masks may do so if they do not present with signs/symptoms of an active infection. Visitors who opt out will be informed of the risk of exposure when not wearing a facial covering/face mask.

• Visitors who are not actively exhibiting signs and symptoms of an airborne illness will be allowed to visit the resident unrestricted unless the resident is immune-comprised and per a physician’s order for all persons entering the room to have a facial covering/face mask to protect the resident.

(7) Facility employee may opt out of wearing a facial covering/face mask unless the team member is:

• Conducting sterile procedures,
• Working in a sterile area,
• Working with a resident whose treating health care practitioner has diagnosed the resident with or confirmed a condition affecting the immune system in a manner which is known to increase risk of transmission of an infection from employee without signs or symptoms of infection to a resident and whose treating practitioner has determined that the use of facial coverings is necessary for the resident’s safety,
• With a resident on droplet or airborne isolation, or
• Engaging in non-clinical potentially hazardous activities that require facial coverings to prevent physical injury or harm in accordance with industry standards.
• Employees will wear approved medical grade face masks – no cloth face masks will be permitted.

  Florida Statue 59AER23-2 Emergency Rule – Standards for Appropriate Use of Facial covering for Infection Control.