Jill White Jill White

Isolation and Quarantine Guidance for Health Care Personnel

Dear Colleagues,

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is sharing updated isolation guidance for healthcare personnel. The updated isolation guidance applies to healthcare settings as defined by the CDC. The updated guidance reduces the amount of time healthcare personnel must isolate due to testing positive for COVID-19 under a set of conditions as described in the updated guidance. Please see the attached document or the below link for details: https://www.mass.gov/doc/isolation-and-quarantine-guidance-for-health-care-personnel/download

Thank you for your continued care of your patients, staff and communities during this unprecedented time.

The Department of Public Health

Read More
Jill White Jill White

Updated Comprehensive PPE Guidance

Dear Colleagues,

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is sharing updated Comprehensive Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) guidance. DPH is updating this guidance to:

  • Create greater flexibility to allow extended use of eye protection to align with CDC PPE use guidance issued at the end of September. DPH has clarified that reusable eye protection does not need to be cleaned in-between each patient encounter but as directed by the manufacturer and any time it is removed.

  • Update aerosol-generating procedure precautions based upon continued high levels of community spread. Providers must don N95 respirators or alternatives to perform these procedures unless there is a COVID-19 test within the past three days or the patient has recovered from COVID-19 within the past three months.

  • Clarify that this guidance applies to EMS personnel and home health workers in community settings.

Thank you for your ongoing dedication to your staff and patients throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thank you,
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Read More
Jill White Jill White

UPDATED Comprehensive Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Guidance

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health continues to work with state, federal and local partners on the outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2, and we continue to appreciate the essential role you have in responding to this evolving situation.

 

The Department of Public Health has developed updated comprehensive PPE guidance (see attached), based upon changes made to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations about eye protection.

 

Read More