CHI Health employees involved in direct patient care are now required to double mask. That includes a surgical, medical grade mask and layering it with a cloth mask on the outside. They will also have the option to wear an N95 mask rather than doubling up.
Due to the contagiousness of the Omicron variant and the spread in the community, CHI Health made the change following direction of its infectious disease experts in an effort to protect the workforce.
“We know that the Omicron Variant of COVID-19 is the dominant variant in Nebraska and Iowa and is much more transmissible than previous variants,” said Dr. Renuga Vivekanandan, Chief of Infectious Disease, CHI Health-Creighton University. “The transmissibility is comparable to other infectious agents like measles.”
While the double masking is only for employees, CHI Health says this technique is good for health care workers and it will help people in the community.