The guidance will Oregon Health Authority (“OHA”)  “strongly recommends” masks in Nursing Facilities through the COVID, Flu and RSV season. We anticipate OHA will soon release guidance strongly recommending (not requiring – at this time) masking in high risk settings, including Nursing Facilities. At this time, we anticipate the recommendations will not include Assisted Living or Residential Care Facilities. Rather than the “masks on” or “masks off” approach we’ve seen in the past, we expect the guidance will establish criteria that once met, high risk health care setting are strongly recommend to implement a masking policy until seasonal offset criteria is met. As we’ve seen in the past masking will be strongly recommended for residents (as reasonable), staff, and visitors. At this time, the recommendations are intended to be a tool for providers to use to determine when to implement masking policies. The recommendations will not prevent more or less progressive policies. In the OHA 9/21/23 press release, health officials continue urging vaccinations as respiratory virus season kicks off.