Michigan health care systems ease mask rules

Michigan health care systems are marking a notable moment in the three-year COVID-19 pandemic: the easing of universal mask-wearing, with masks to be optional for patients, visitors and staff in many settings.

The systems still have exceptions, most notably at long-term care and skilled nursing facilities, with each health system establishing its own guidelines.

Patients can still ask their care teams to wear masks and the rules may change if COVID-19, flu or other virus levels change in the community.

"I think one of the big motivations for us ... the masking was something that I think was detracting from our patient experience, from our team members' experience," Dr. Benjamin Schwartz, president of Corewell Health in southeast Michigan, said Thursday. "It's hard to ignore for many of us that we would go to sporting events or be out in public places and not have to wear masks, but then have to wear masks at the workplace. And I think it was time."

What do COVID-19 cases look like in Michigan?

There were 504 people hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 in Michigan as of Wednesday — 496 adults and eight children, according to state health department data.

Schwartz said of the approximately 5,200 beds Corewell Health has in Michigan, about 150 have COVID-19 patients.

All but four counties in Michigan are at a low COVID-19 community level. Gogebic, Iron, Dickinson and Menominee counties in the Upper Peninsula are at a medium COVID-19 community level, according to the latest data Thursday from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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What are mask rules at health care systems?

They vary. Here's a brief rundown:

• Ascension Michigan: Masks are not required except in units providing care to immunocompromised populations or patients with an increased risk of complications from COVID-19, including intensive care units, oncology units/centers and transplant units. Those seeking care for respiratory symptoms or who are COVID-19-positive should wear a hospital-grade mask.

• Bronson Healthcare: Starting Tuesday, masks will be optional except for those who exhibit symptoms of respiratory or infectious illness. Masks will continue at Bronson Commons, a skilled nursing facility, according to a release from Corewell Health that listed the new mask rules of many of the health systems in Michigan.

• Corewell Health: Starting Friday, masks are optional at all hospitals and locations except long-term care and skilled nursing facilities and transplant clinics.

• Covenant HealthCare: Starting Monday, masks will be optional with a few exceptions.

• Detroit Medical Center: Starting Friday, masks will be optional at all hospitals and locations.

• Henry Ford Health System: Starting Friday, masks will be optional at facilities except for inpatient areas where immunocompromised patients are cared for.

• Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation: Starting Friday, masking is recommended but optional at the Grand Rapids hospital campus, west Michigan outpatient locations and Mary Free Bed Orthotics & Prosthetic + Bionics locations. The Mary Free Bed Sub-Acute Rehabilitation Program will require masks, per the release.

• McLaren Health Care: Starting Monday, masks will be optional at all hospital and outpatient locations except for designated critical care units; Karmanos Cancer Institute facilities; subacute/outpatient rehabilitation facilities, and skilled nursing facilities, per the release.

• Michigan Medicine: Masks generally are not required in public areas, such as hallways, waiting areas and cafeterias. Masks are required for anyone with respiratory symptoms, positive COVID-19 test results or have a household contact with COVID-19. Caregivers wear masks when providing direct patient care.

• Munson Healthcare: Starting Friday, masks will not be required in hospitals and clinics with the exception of long-term care and skilled nursing facilities, per the release.

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• MyMichigan Health: Masks are not required in non-patient care areas, including common entryways, hallways and waiting rooms. Patient care areas are locations where patients are being screened, evaluated, treated or admitted.

• Sparrow Health: Masks are optional in public areas, including hallways, cafeterias and most waiting areas. Patients and visitors will need to mask when visiting patients, seeking medical care for respiratory symptoms and COVID-19, including fever, new cough or rash, or when someone in their home has COVID-19. Caregivers will mask when providing direct patient care or experiencing respiratory-like symptoms, according to the health system.

• Trinity Health Michigan: Starting Monday, masks are optional. People with a fever or respiratory illness should not visit patients. Visitors may be asked to mask if they are visiting a patient who has a compromised immune system or respiratory illness. The release indicated masks are optional except for senior living communities.

Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter: @challreporter.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan health care systems ease face mask rules