Mask Recommendations and Requirements
Workers, patients and visitors are no longer required to wear masks in health care settings.
Order rescinding OAR 333-019-1011, Masking Requirements to Control COVID-19 in Health Care Settings (effective April 3, 2023)
Order rescinding OAR 333-019-1015, Masking Requirements in Schools (effective March 12, 2022)
Order rescinding OAR 333-019-1025, Mask Requirements in Indoor Spaces (effective March 12, 2022)
The following settings may have masking requirements. OHA recommends you check with the organization or location about their mask policies before entering the premises.
Health care providers may be required to wear masks in compliance with federal laws. For facilities subject to CMS regulations, visit OHA’s Health Care Regulation and Quality Improvement webpage: www.healthoregon.org/hflc. On this webpage, you will find updated memos for facilities and agencies subject to CMS regulations:
OHA recommends people at high risk of severe disease and hospitalization, especially in communities with higher levels of transmission per the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) COVID-19 Community Levels, continue to wear masks in health care settings, including people:
- Who are unvaccinated,
- With compromised immune systems,
- With underlying health conditions,
- Are 65 and older, or
- Living with others at high risk of severe disease.
Vaccination Requirements
On May 11, 2023 OHA filed a temporary suspension of OAR 333-019-1010, COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for Healthcare Providers and Healthcare Staff in Healthcare Settings.
While state-level COVID-19 vaccination requirement for staff in health care settings was suspended on May 11, 2023, facilities and agencies subject to regulation of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) are still required to ensure staff vaccination to comply with federal recommendations. CMS indicated in their Guidance for the
Expiration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), QSO-23-13-ALL, issued on May 1, 2023, that new CMS guidance will be issued soon. The current CMS vaccination requirement, as reflected in CMS’s
Revised Guidance for Staff Vaccination Requirements, QSO-23-02-ALL, issued on October 26, 2022, will remain in place until CMS issues new guidance.
Effective June 17, 2023, the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for public and private school teachers, staff and volunteers is lifted. This means that starting June 17, teachers, school staff and volunteers in schools no longer have to provide proof of vaccination or have a valid medical or religious exception on file to be in direct or indirect contact with students. Being up to date on COVID-19 vaccines continues to offer significant protection against severe illness and hospitalization.
OHA filed the temporary suspension of OAR 333-019-1030, COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements for Teachers and School Staff, on May 11, 2023, effective June 17, 2023.
For more information about updates to COVID policies, review OHA’s and the Oregon Department of Education’s recent announcements: