Dear Northwest Catholic Counseling Center Community:
On Monday, April 3, the Oregon Health Authority ended the statewide requirement for masks in healthcare settings like NCC. The rule was put in place early in the COVID-19 pandemic to limit the spread of respiratory viruses. Though people are still catching COVID, the transmission rates are much lower than they’ve been in the past.
In counseling, wearing a mask can be challenging. We want to balance the desire to go without a mask with the very real health and immune issues many people, including staff and clients, face. As a result, masks will no longer be required at NCC but they will be encouraged to limit the spread of illness. Any employee or client can wear a mask if they feel more comfortable doing so. If, when you come to the office, you would like your counselor or a staff member to wear a mask, please ask and we will happily oblige.
If you are sick with any type of contagious illness, please don’t come to the office. Therapy over video or by phone is always an option, and we will gladly reschedule your appointment. We want you, your family, and your friends to be safe and healthy, and we want the same for all our staff members and volunteers, too.
Universal masking may return if we return to high COVID-19 transmission rates or there is an outbreak. I will update you if that occurs.
If you have any questions about this, or any of our work at NCC, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with me.
Thank you!
Erin Peters
Executive Director
[email protected]
503-253-0964 ext. 210
