Universal Masking in Health Care Settings: A Pandemic Strategy Whose Time Has Come and Gone, For Now

Ann Intern Med. 2023 Jun;176(6):859-861. doi: 10.7326/M23-0793. Epub 2023 Apr 18.

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, the use of facemasks has been mandated in all health care settings for individuals older than 2 years, whether present as health care personnel, patients, or visitors. In this commentary, a group of health care epidemiologists, infectious diseases physicians, and researchers argue for the withdrawal of the universal masking policy given the current status of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Publication types

  • Editorial

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19*
  • Delivery of Health Care
  • Humans
  • Pandemics*
  • SARS-CoV-2