Mask guidance when visiting Mayo Clinic

Posted by Laurie, Volunteer Mentor @roch, Dec 30, 2021

FYI - If you have future visit to Mayo, they have updated their mask policy.

You are now required to wear surgical/procedural, N-95 or KN-95 mask. Surgical mask are the disposal mask. No cloth mask, mask with exhalation valves, gaiters, or bandanas.

But do not worry, if you do not have a surgical mask, they will provide one during screening at hospital / clinic entrances.

See news announcement: Dec 29, 2021
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-asks-all-patients-and-visitors-to-wear-surgical-procedural-masks/
Laurie

++++UPDATED++++
Note from the Community Director

Mayo Clinic regularly updates their information about COVID safety protocols. As you prepare to come to Mayo Clinic, check these sites:

- Visiting Mayo Clinic safely during the COVID-19 pandemic https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/preparing-for-your-visit/visiting-mayo-clinic-safely
- Acceptable masks at Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/preparing-for-your-visit/covid-19-acceptable-face-masks

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Visiting Mayo Clinic Support Group.

Hi Elizabeth, Can I still wear my KN95 masks, made in the US? This is what I wore to Mayo, in Rochester, last Aug., Sept., Oct., snd Nov. I go back to the Mayo, on 3/16-17/22. If not what do you wear now? Wear can I purchase them. Want to follow guidelines and be prepared. Thank you, for your help! Lisa

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@lisagraber

Hi Elizabeth, Can I still wear my KN95 masks, made in the US? This is what I wore to Mayo, in Rochester, last Aug., Sept., Oct., snd Nov. I go back to the Mayo, on 3/16-17/22. If not what do you wear now? Wear can I purchase them. Want to follow guidelines and be prepared. Thank you, for your help! Lisa

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Yes, you may wear your KN95 masks. They are appropriate. The masks not allowed now are fabric masks which have so many variables that they’re unpredictable for protection. Some fabric masks are just one layer while others are 3 with filters.
So for right now the KN95 and N95 Masks are preferred. When you go return for you appt at Mayo, you’ll go through the checkpoint at the entrance. There they will also hand out appropriate masks for anyone not having one. No worries. ☺️

Here’s a link with all the details. https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/preparing-for-your-visit/covid-19-acceptable-face-masks

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Hi Elizabeth. Thank you for your speedy reply. I always wear that, when I have to go out for an appointment. I don’t go out unless I have too. I have a low immune system. I know that some people believe it’s their tight to choose to wear a mask or get vaccinated. I wear one, am vaccinated, and do so to protect others and myself. I wish more people were on board with this. Please don’t trash talk me, for wanting to protect others and myself. Thank you, Lisa

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@lisagraber

Hi Elizabeth. Thank you for your speedy reply. I always wear that, when I have to go out for an appointment. I don’t go out unless I have too. I have a low immune system. I know that some people believe it’s their tight to choose to wear a mask or get vaccinated. I wear one, am vaccinated, and do so to protect others and myself. I wish more people were on board with this. Please don’t trash talk me, for wanting to protect others and myself. Thank you, Lisa

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Hi Lisa, actually I pinch hit for Elizabeth in the mask question. I’m completely with you in wearing masks not only for our protection but to help stop the advance of this pandemic. It’s such a simple, harmless thing to do but so incredibly important in the fight to get this virus under control.
I’m immunocompromised too and not sure any of the 3 vaccinations I received have produced antibodies or had a reaction with my T cells. A mask is my first line of defense and no one can possibly make me feel embarrassed or a ‘weirdo’ for wearing it. Bring on the side-eye glances. They don’t bother me a bit. ☺️

Thank you for being one of the responsible people to take all the precautions. A very knowledgeable doctor at Mayo told me that this virus could be under control in 6 months if everyone wore a mask. No aerosol spread, no victims. So, no host, no virus. Alas, this cycle will be doomed to spread until people stop denying science.

Looks like we’ll be just be missing each other in Rochester. I’ll be there in 10 days. Good luck with your appointment. You’ve been given a gift of sight. ☺️ It’s an amazing place of hope, isn’t it?

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@loribmt

Yes, you may wear your KN95 masks. They are appropriate. The masks not allowed now are fabric masks which have so many variables that they’re unpredictable for protection. Some fabric masks are just one layer while others are 3 with filters.
So for right now the KN95 and N95 Masks are preferred. When you go return for you appt at Mayo, you’ll go through the checkpoint at the entrance. There they will also hand out appropriate masks for anyone not having one. No worries. ☺️

Here’s a link with all the details. https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/preparing-for-your-visit/covid-19-acceptable-face-masks

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I think cloth masks are OK according to the link. The unacceptable masks are the masks with vents, bandanas and neck gaitors.

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@johnbishop

I think cloth masks are OK according to the link. The unacceptable masks are the masks with vents, bandanas and neck gaitors.

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Hi John, this was a release from Mayo on Dec 29th. “Patients or visitors who are wearing non-medical grade masks other than those with exhalation valves, gaiters, or bandanas (such as cloth masks) will be offered a medical-grade mask. It will be asked, not required, that they wear the Mayo Clinic-provided mask instead of the cloth mask. Patients and visitors may choose to wear their surgical/procedural mask over a cloth mask if they prefer for reasons of comfort and fit, with the surgical mask on the outside.”

https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-asks-all-patients-and-visitors-to-wear-surgical-procedural-masks/
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@johnbishop

I think cloth masks are OK according to the link. The unacceptable masks are the masks with vents, bandanas and neck gaitors.

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Not sure if it's for all campuses but I was at Phoenix Mayo last Tuesday and I had a surgical mask on but they required me to put one of there new purple ones on instead and as usual my curiosity got the best of me and asked why . And I could tell right away and they confirmed it that it had a tighter weave than the typical surgical mask. It was a quality mask and comfortable so was not a problem.

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@danab

Not sure if it's for all campuses but I was at Phoenix Mayo last Tuesday and I had a surgical mask on but they required me to put one of there new purple ones on instead and as usual my curiosity got the best of me and asked why . And I could tell right away and they confirmed it that it had a tighter weave than the typical surgical mask. It was a quality mask and comfortable so was not a problem.

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I was there last week and asked about the purple mask too. I was told that it has a special filter to soak up moisture. They didn’t give me one because I was wearing an n95 mask. Thank you Mayo Clinic for all your Covid mitigation efforts. I feel safe there.

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This was posted on the Mayo News Network on Jan. 13, 2022. In this is 5 minute video, an infectious disease specialist at Mayo Clinic, demonstrates the various mask options and how to properly wear them. Dr. John O'Horo will explain the different type of masks, and the color varieties.
How to decide which mask is best for you.
https://youtu.be/MNTSrOizZUU

I was surprised to learn that the color alone is not indication of type or quality of a mask. It can depend on the manufacturer!

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I wonder what the policy is now? After the DANmask and Bangladesh study have both failed to show mask efficacy (cloth and surgical), when will Mayo be changing their guidelines? I have read both studies. Bangladesh did show a small benefit to those over 50 who wore surgical masks but this very small benefit may have been due to other factors. Prior to Covid there were over 14 randomized control trials of masks that also failed to show any efficacy in preventing the spread of viruses or infection in the wearer.

Editor's Note:
The studies cited support the use of masks in reducing the spread of COVID infection.

At the time of this post, masks are required at Mayo Clinic. Patients and visitors will be offered Mayo Clinic-provided surgical/procedural masks when they go through the screening process or when they check in. See updated information here:

- Masks and Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/preparing-for-your-visit/covid-19-acceptable-face-masks

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