Importance of Mask-Wearing in Community Settings During COVID-19
The American College of Physicians (ACP) endorses the widespread wearing of masks in community settings as a vital component of public health measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The policy statement emphasizes the role of masks in combination with other preventive strategies such as physical distancing, education on correct mask usage, and promoting hygiene protocols. Additionally, the ACP supports the implementation of mask requirements in various settings, including public transportation and workplaces at high risk of virus transmission. A comprehensive approach that includes federal grants, employer mandates, and public education campaigns is highlighted to encourage compliance and enhance protection against the virus.
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Wearing Masks in Community Settings During COVID-19 Josh Serchen Associate, Health Policy, ACP
The Growing Need for a National Mask Policy CDC calls on Americans to wear masks to prevent COVID-19 spread JAMA editorial reviews latest science, while case study shows masks prevented COVID spread 2
Where We Stood: U.S. Mask Policy, January 2021 Source: NBC News 3
ACP Policy Statement on Wearing Masks in Community Settings Approved by the Executive Committee of the Board of Regents on behalf of the Board of Regents on January 11, 2021 1. The American College of Physicians supports the wearing of surgical or cloth masks by the public in community settings, and believes that federal, state, and local authorities may appropriately require it as a component of a comprehensive public health strategy to prevent and contain the spread of COVID-19 until sufficient population immunity is achieved through vaccination. The strategy should also incorporate physical distancing, education about appropriate mask use (e.g., types of face coverings, application, safe use, and disposal), promotion of preventive hygiene protocols, and widespread diagnostic testing and contact tracing (1, 2). The strategy should take into account local demographics (e.g., high risk populations), epidemiologic data (e.g., reproduction rate, daily case counts, hospitalizations, and deaths), and exposure context (e.g., number of people, indoor vs outdoors, ventilation, etc.). 4
ACP Policy Statement on Wearing Masks in Community Settings 2. The American College of Physicians supports requiring masks to be worn in interstate public transportation and in facilities run by the federal government as part of a comprehensive prevention strategy. 3. The American College of Physicians supports asking the Occupational Health and Safety Administration to consider requiring that masks be worn in workplaces at high risk of virus transmission and in places where essential services are provided. 4. The American College of Physicians supports creating new federal grants to incentivize states to promptly implement mask requirements as recommended by public health authorities within an appropriate grace period. 5. The American College of Physicians supports an evaluation of conditioning federal grants and assistance to private businesses and organizations related to addressing the COVID-19 pandemic on implementation of a mask requirement for employees and customers. 6. The American College of Physicians urges employers to implement mask requirements within their worksites, as part of a comprehensive prevention strategy, to protect their workers and their customers. 5
ACP Policy Statement on Wearing Masks in Community Settings 7. The American College of Physicians supports a public education campaign, modeled on programs to discourage smoking and encourage wearing of seat belts, to encourage individuals to wear masks as part of a comprehensive prevention strategy against respiratory virus public health threats. 8. The American College of Physicians supports a public education campaign to educate the general public about appropriate mask use and handling as part of a comprehensive prevention strategy against respiratory virus public health threats. 9. The American College of Physicians urges governors to require the wearing of masks in public facilities run by their respective states, in manufacturing and retail establishments, in schools, in public transportation, and in other workplaces and facilities as part of a comprehensive prevention strategy. 10. The American College of Physicians urges local and state governments to adequately and appropriately enforce mask requirements. Any incentives or penalties should be carefully weighed to ensure against potential negative impact on access and other measures of health equity. Officials should avoid issuing punitive fines and tickets at the individual level for noncompliance. 11. The American College of Physicians supports efforts by federal, state, and local governments to subsidize or directly provide face masks to the public. 6
Biden Administration Executive Actions on Masks Executive Order on Protecting Worker Health and Safety Executive Order on Protecting the Federal Workforce and Requiring Mask-Wearing ACP: The College has called for Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue mask guidance for high-risk work places so that workers can know that they are protected, while also enforcing the requirements, consistent with this executive order. ACP: This order aligns with ACP s recommendations to implement evidence-based practices to limit spread of COVID-19, including wearing masks, physical distancing, and other recommendations; require the use of masks on federal property; and to incentivize, support, and encourage widespread mask-wearing. Executive Order on Promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel ACP: This order aligns with ACP s recommendations on mask- wearing in community settings, recommending that the federal government require that masks be worn on all public transportation. 7
