Prior to the COVID pandemic masks were required only in the Operating Room and when dealing with patients diagnosed with highly infectious diseases. Both cases also required the wearing of gowns, gloves, and shoe coverings before entering the room to perform any procedures.
As to why they are dropping the mask mandate now it could be because at least in Massachusetts “Department of Public Health officials say infection control experts and other leaders at some of the state’s largest hospital systems have been the ones asking them to end the mask mandate. “This decision is aligned with CDC guidance … and was made following extensive conversations with health care experts,” said a state spokesperson, noting that most other states have already lifted their mask mandates for healthcare settings”.
