APIC says new CDC masking guidelines are too lax

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently relaxed its masking guidelines for healthcare professionals, but at least one organization is recommending that infection specialists in particular should ignore the change and maintain mandatory masking requirements.

The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) issued the response to the CDC's policy change. According to the agency's update to its infection control guidance on September 23, a healthcare worker's vaccination status is no longer considered when determining when to screen, quarantine or use face masks and respirators – known as "source control."

The CDC no longer recommends source control for patient-facing healthcare workers in communities with a high level of COVID-19 spread. Screening of asymptomatic workers is now at the discretion of the healthcare facility, and testing is generally not recommended for workers in the first 30 days after recovering from an infection – though an antigen test should be considered for asymptomatic, exposed professionals who had recovered 31 to 90 days prior.

APIC considers these new guidelines too lax, and said that while many healthcare employees have understandably grown weary of masking, it may be problematic to discontinue the virus-mitigation strategy heading into what's expected to be a severe flu season. 

"As healthcare professionals, we are obligated to protect the vulnerable patients entrusted to our care," APIC wrote. "It is for this reason that we take annual flu shots, and stay up to date with other immunizations, including COVID-19. Requiring masks of anyone who enters a healthcare setting, including employees, helps to ensure the safest environment for our patients."

The group pointed to a potential wave of new COVID-19 cases in the coming months based on wastewater surveillance and rising case counts overseas. That, APIC believes, will necessitate a return to universal masking, and having a policy that changes back and forth is confusing, the organization said.

WHAT'S THE IMPACT?

The CDC's new guidance for healthcare workers follows broader guidance for the general population that was issued in August. Isolation is now no longer necessary for a person exposed to someone with the coronavirus – whether they're vaccinated or not.

Also, someone can end their isolation if they test negative. If a person tests positive and they're symptomatic, they should consider Day 0 as the day of symptom onset, regardless of when they tested positive, and count the first full day after symptoms started as Day 1.

If someone tests positive and has no symptoms, Day 0 is the day they were tested, Day 1 is the first full day following the test, and if the person develops symptoms within 10 days of when they were tested, the clock restarts at Day 0 on the day of symptom onset.

THE LARGER TREND

The CDC has been relaxing masking guidance for the general population for months, saying in February that requirements would be eased for the 70% of communities deemed to have medium or low COVID-19 levels.

If an individual has tested positive for COVID-19 or is symptomatic, the mask wearing guidance remains.
 

Twitter: @JELagasse
Email the writer: jeff.lagasse@himssmedia.com