Northeast Georgia Health System on Friday removed the majority of its mask requirements for employees, patients and visitors who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
According to a press release from NGHS, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid defines "fully vaccinated," as having received two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine or one dose of Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine.
“We’re really happy to take this step, but it’s not to say that we’re completely out of the woods,” John Delzell, MD, incident commander for NGHS’ COVID-19 response said. “Safety is our top priority, so we may require universal masking for employees and visitors again if our area’s COVID-19 transmission levels increase in the future.”
Those who are fully vaccinated will no longer be required to wear masks while at a Northeast Georgia Medical Center campus, in a Northeast Georgia Physicians Group office, in Georgia Heart Institute officers or at most other NGHS locations.
The one exception to the announcement relates to NGHS' long-term care facilities, called New Horizons. Masks are still required for all patients, visitors and employees in a New Horizons facility. Employees caring for patients suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 and anyone who is symptomatic, inside the 10-day isolation window or has had close contact or exposure to someone with COVID-19 will also still be required to wear a mask.
Visitation policies have also been updated at NGHS facilities. Specifically, waiting rooms at all locations are now fully open, though social distancing is still being encouraged.
“We’ve come a long way in knowing how to handle this virus,” Dr. Delzell said. “We’re pleased to make this change and get back to some sense of normalcy around the hospital. We know this is a step our community and our employees have been looking forward to for quite a while.”
More information can be found here.
