MA Department of Public Health Update to Mask Requirements - October 20, 2022

On October 13, 2022, the Commissioner of Public Health issued COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Order No. 2022-19 regarding masking requirements in certain settings. This order supersedes the June 10, 2022, Order of the Commissioner of Public Health COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Order No. 2022-14.

Impacts to STCC

Client Masking

Clients at dental sites are no longer required to wear masks. Dental site staff must still wear masks. Most other healthcare facilities still have a mask requirement for all staff/patients/visitors, including our Health & Wellness Center.

Healthcare Personnel Returning from COVID-19 Infection

Healthcare personnel need to receive a negative antigen test before returning from COVID-19 infection to any healthcare facility. This impacts the healthcare personnel in the STCC Health & Wellness Center and our SHPS clinics. Details below.

  • Isolating Healthcare personnel who had COVID-19 symptoms may return to work:
    • after 5 days have passed since the first positive test was taken; AND
    • symptoms have substantially improved, including being fever-free, for 24 hours; AND
    • the HCP received a negative test (antigen) on Day 5 or later.
  • An isolating HCP who has been asymptomatic and is isolating may return to work after 5 days once:
    • the HCP received a negative test (antigen) on Day 5 or later
  • Any HCP who returns to work prior to 10 days since their first positive test was taken should avoid caring for patients who are moderately to severely immunocompromised until after 10 days has passed since their positive test.

Order and Guidances

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