Starting Monday, April 3, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are no longer requiring masks in health care settings.

What does this mean for Salem Health patients, visitors and staff?

Masks are no longer required except for use with standard precautions or isolation precautions. In these cases, staff and providers must wear PPE as instructed.

Staff and providers may also voluntarily wear masks. 

As a reminder, we will continue to ask visitors to self-screen at entry.

If you are a visitor, please do not enter the facility if you experience any of these symptoms:

• Fever or chills
• New unexplained cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• New or unexplained loss of taste or smell
• New or unexplained muscle aches
• COVID diagnosis in the past 10 days or waiting on a COVID test result
• Recent close contact with someone suspected of having COVID

If there are high levels of respiratory viruses circulating in the community (such as influenza, COVID-19, RSV, etc.) we will follow the guidance of OHA, OSHA or CDC and may adjust masking requirements in the future.

If you are sick, have a health condition that puts you at high risk of severe illness from respiratory virus exposure, or feel more comfortable wearing a mask at any time, we encourage you to continue wearing one in any setting, including health care settings.