Acceptable masks at Mayo Clinic

All patients, staff and visitors are required to wear a mask while on Mayo Clinic property.

Recommended and acceptable masks

Due to the growing wave of infection from the omicron variant and the urgent need to strengthen all layers of protection against COVID-19, Mayo Clinic is asking all patients and visitors to wear surgical/procedural masks.

Patients and visitors will be offered Mayo Clinic-provided surgical/procedural masks when they go through the screening process or when they check in. Patients with unacceptable masks, which are those with exhalation valves, neck gaiters or bandanas, will be required to wear medical-grade masks (surgical/procedural, N95 or KN-95), whether they are provided by Mayo Clinic or patients provide them.

Recommended

• Surgical or procedural masks (tie or ear loop)

Acceptable

• N95 or KN-95 masks without vents
  • N95 respirators are preferred for health care personnel during specific care activities.
  • Patients or visitors arriving with an N95 masks may continue using them.
• Cloth masks

Unacceptable masks

• Masks with vents
  • Why? Masks with vents or exhalation valves allow unfiltered exhaled air to escape.
• Bandanas
• Neck Gaitors