As of Monday, March 28th Symmetry has updated the mask-wearing policies for the clinic. This policy change has been made in conjunction with the City of Austin and the Travis County Health Department’s recommendations and adjustments to county-wide policies.
- Masks will continue to be required in the clinic for all staff and visitors between the hours of 7:00 am & 1:00 pm.
- Masks will not be required between the hours of 1:00 pm and 7:00 pm.
- Patients and visitors are welcome to wear a mask if so desired at any time within the clinic.
- Symmetry asks that staff, patients, or visitors to the clinic wear a mask in the clinic if they are known to have been in close contact with someone that is sick with COVID-19 during the previous 10 days.
- Symmetry also asks that staff, patients, and visitors stay home and not come in to the clinic if they are not feeling well or have any symptoms of any type of active illness.
As of March 23rd, Travis County has lifted all COVID-19 emergency rules and orders. The County has also discontinued use of the prior Stage 1 through Stage 5 Guidelines and is instead following the Centers for Disease Control’s Low-Medium-HighRisk-Based Guidelines. Under these guidelines, Travis County currently falls into a Low Risk category, under which recommendations state that mask use and other transmission control strategies are recommended but also optional. To read Travis County’s announcement, click here. To see the CDC’s COVID-19 County Check tool, use this link. For more on the Low-Medium-High Risk-Based Guidelines, use this link.
Symmetry’s updated mask-wearing policy reflects the updated Travis County and CDC guidelines for the local Austin area at this point in the pandemic, while also allowing accommodation for those that are high risk or who live with and/or care for others that are high risk.
Symmetry continues to utilize multiple infection prevention strategies that enhance a healthy clinic environment. Foremost among these strategies is the clinic’s air flow and ventilation system, which has been specifically designed and constructed according to high standards for indoor air quality by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). The clinic also continues to utilize free-standing air purifiers equipped with HEPA filters throughout the clinic. Hand-washing and equipment cleaning procedures are additionally followed in accordance with standard medical practice. For more information on Symmetry’s indoor air quality strategies, check out this blog post.
If you have any questions about this policy change or about current health-care industry guidelines regarding infection control measures, please reach out to us at info@symmetryptaustin.com
Thank-you for your cooperation as we continue to strive to provide a healthy and comfortable environment for everyone!