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Mask Usage in Healthcare Settings: Is It the Right Time for Easing Restrictions? A Narrative Review
Hosein Kouchaki1,2, Reza Tabrizi3,4, Parnia Kamyab1,5
1Health Policy Research Center, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Iranian Journal of Public Health
|December 8, 2025
Summary
Healthcare mask policies are being reassessed post-COVID-19. This review examines mask efficacy and adherence to guide safe easing of mask use in clinical settings during concurrent respiratory virus epidemics.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Face masks became crucial for infection control during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Global mask mandates and vaccination reduced peak pandemic phases.
- The WHO reclassified COVID-19, leading to policy reassessments in healthcare settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current evidence on mask efficacy and adherence in clinical settings.
- To evaluate conditions under which mask use can be safely reduced.
- To inform policy decisions regarding mask mandates in healthcare facilities.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review of studies on mask efficacy.
- Analysis of adherence data related to mask-wearing in hospitals.
- Examination of recent policy changes by health organizations.
Main Results:
- Masks demonstrated significant efficacy in reducing transmission of respiratory viruses.
- Adherence to mask policies varies, impacting overall effectiveness.
- Concurrent epidemics of COVID-19, influenza, and RSV increase risk in hospitals.
Conclusions:
- Masks remain a vital tool for infection control in high-risk clinical settings.
- Easing mask policies requires careful consideration of transmission levels and vulnerable populations.
- Further research is needed to optimize mask protocols during endemic respiratory virus circulation.
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