A state requirement that for nearly two years mandated that people wear face masks in public health facilities ends Monday, April 3.

The rule had applied to workers, patients and visitors in healthcare settings including but not limited to hospitals, mobile clinics, ambulances, outpatient facilities, dental offices, urgent care centers, long term care facilities, counseling offices, school-based health centers and complementary and alternative medicine locations.

Some health care settings may decide to continue requiring masks even after the statewide requirement is lifted, according to the Oregon Health Authority. The order had been in effect since August 2021.

Anyone who wants to continue to wear a mask can do so, including in public places and in workplaces.

In Lincoln County, Samaritan Health Services said while masks are no longer required, it will:

Ask patients to wear a face mask if they have symptoms of any respiratory illness such as colds, flu or Covid-19;
Have infection-prevention stations at clinics and hospitals with masks, tissues and hand sanitizer;
Require that people visiting patients are free of contagious disease;
And that it will use infection prevention protocols such as cleaning, sanitation, isolation precautions for patients with certain contagious diseases.

Samaritan officials said that its patients, visitors and staff are still welcome to wear face masks if they want or need to. Patients are also welcome to request that their care team members wear facemasks during their appointments.