Reminder: Face masks still required
To wear a mask properly, make sure it covers both the nose and mouth.
While the state of Alabama and many businesses have lifted their face mask requirements, USA Health reminds employees that masking still is required inside all USA Health facilities to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.
The reason: low vaccination rates in the community and the health system.
“Because vaccination rates are low, we have to make the assumption that a significant number of people coming in and out of the hospitals and clinics, including those who work there, still are not vaccinated,” said Michael Chang, M.D., chief medical officer for USA Health. “We’re going to continue masking because we have no choice.”
He said employees and visitors must make sure their mask covers both the nose and mouth to prevent transmission.
Those who receive the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines are considered fully vaccinated 14 days after the second dose. Both vaccines have been shown to be safe and highly effective against COVID-19 and its variants. Employees can receive the Pfizer vaccine at the Mobile Civic Center Arena and at a new vaccine clinic located on the third floor of the USA Health Strada Patient Care Center in Room 3007.
Because the vaccines do not provide 100 percent protection, all employees are reminded to self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, headache, loss of taste or smell, body aches, chills, cough, shortness of breath, runny nose or congestion, fatigue, nausea or vomiting. Employees who have these symptoms are asked to isolate at home until symptoms subside.
