Collaborative approaches to masking: statewide threshold development and performance across three respiratory seasons

Transmission of respiratory illnesses in health care settings poses significant risks to patients and staff. Without clear, standardized masking thresholds, policies may vary, resulting in confusion. We developed statewide consensus thresholds to guide masking in Minnesota health care systems over three respiratory seasons.

A multidisciplinary workgroup consisting of infection preventionists, infectious disease providers, occupational health specialists, and representatives from the state health department reviewed available data, including hospitalization rates, influenza-like illness levels, test positivity, and wastewater data. Thresholds used for masking were evaluated and updated each year after analyzing performance and feedback from health care facilities.

Analysis of the first season thresholds revealed issues with data sources selected and resulted in the group changing threshold recommendations from illness levels to hospitalization rates. Analysis of the second season thresholds revealed issues with masking timing and threshold recommendations for COVID-19 hospitalization leading to changes in COVID-19 masking thresholds and the addition of a masking implementation date for season three. Nine of out ten health systems reporting implementing universal masking during the respiratory season. Those that implemented masking reporting strong staff and leadership support due to the aligned metrics.

Development of standardized thresholds improved staff support for masking and reduced staff and patient confusion. Use of basic epidemiology tools in threshold development allowed for replication across healthcare systems and easy communication of thresholds to staff and patients. Data reporting lags can delay masking during periods of rapidly increasing illness.