Joint Commission supports CDC’s recommendations on universal masking of staff, patients, visitors

Editor's Note

The Joint Commission on April 23 announced that it supports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s new recommendations that healthcare facilities “. . . implement source control for everyone entering a healthcare facility (eg, healthcare personnel, patients, visitors), regardless of symptoms . . .”

Source control involves having individuals wear cloth face coverings or facemasks over their mouths and noses to contain respiratory secretions and reduce the dispersion of droplets from an infected individual.

The Joint Commission says it believes universal masking in healthcare settings is a critical tool to protect staff and patients from becoming infected with COVID-19 by asymptomatic and presymptomatic individuals and should be implemented in any community where COVID-19 is occurring.