US hospitals reinstate mask mandates.
COVID-19 Mask Mandates Reimposed in Multiple States as Cases Rise
A handful of hospitals in multiple states announced this week that COVID-19 mask mandates would be reimplemented as officials cite an increase in COVID-19 cases.
On Sept. 15, the Baystate Health system in Massachusetts announced that it would require masks for anyone entering patient rooms or patient care areas. That includes doctors, nurses, visitors, and patients, it said.
“In order to protect the safety and health of our patients, visitors, and employees, we must re-institute the requirement that face masks be worn by employees and visitors in all direct patient care areas in Baystate Health hospitals and the Cancer Center, effective immediately,” the announcement said. “Our team will be continually monitoring the state of COVID-19 in our communities so that our policies can adjust based on the risk assessment.”
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Also on Sept. 15, the University of Chicago Medical Center in Illinois told CBS Chicago and other local media that mask mandates will be in effect for workers who are in direct contact with patients. Employees who don’t have symptoms don’t have to wear masks in certain areas like workrooms, public areas, break rooms, and during meetings, officials said.
“Based on our internal data, COVID cases amongst employees are doubling every week, and patient cases have increased in all locations,” Dr. Emily Landon, the executive medical director for infection prevention and control at the hospital, said in a memo, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
In Pennsylvania, Mount Nittany Health said on Sept. 14 that it would mandate employees to wear masks while engaging with patients. The mandate will run until Sept. 29, according to a news release cited by a local outlet, and it doesn’t include a mandate for visitors or patients.
“Mount Nittany Health will continue to monitor the situation and make changes as appropriate,” the hospital said. “If patients or visitors have symptoms of COVID-19 or respiratory illness, Mount Nittany Health asks that they please take the appropriate precautions and kindly mask in Mount Nittany Health facilities.”
Around the same time, Cape Regional Medical Center in Cape May County, New Jersey, confirmed that it would also be reinstating a mask mandate. There’s no mandate for visitors or patients, officials said.
“In response to an increase in the number of patients hospitalized with COVID at Cape Regional Medical Center as well as community members with COVID, Cape Regional Medical Center team members are wearing masks when providing direct patient care,” a hospital spokesperson told a local New Jersey station.
Recent data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that hospitalizations across the United States are up 8.7 percent in the week ending Sept. 2. However, the total number of COVID-19 hospital admissions is still very low relative to previous years and previous increases in hospitalizations.
Last month, a doctor with Tufts Medicine said that the recent rise in COVID-19 cases shouldn’t be of concern.
“An upswing is not a surge; it’s not even a wave,” Dr. Shira Doron, the chief infection control officer for Tufts Medicine, told ABC News. “What we’re seeing is a very gradual and small upward trajectory of cases and hospitalizations, without deaths really going along, which is great news.”
Other Mandates
In August, UMass Memorial Hospital in Massachusetts confirmed in a statement last week that it would reimpose masking for staff. Patients and visitors are exempt from the mandate, it stated.
“We have continued to see a dramatic increase in the number of COVID-19-positive employees over the past two weeks, which has led to exposures of both fellow caregivers and patients,” the statement read. “In response to this, as a protective measure for our staff and patients, effective immediately, we are requiring mandatory caregiver masking for all patient encounters in all licensed clinical areas.”
A Kaiser Permanente location in Santa Rosa, California, stated that it would again require masks because of what it said was a rise in COVID-19 tests as of Aug. 22. However, days later, the hospital clarified that the mandate applies only to staff and physicians, not visitors and patients.
Kaiser told a local newspaper in Santa Rosa that it’s still “strongly encouraging masks for patients, members, and visitors in the hospital and medical offices in the Santa Rosa Service Area in response to this latest increase in COVID-19 cases.” But face coverings aren’t required for those people, it stated.
In the meantime, several hospitals in Upstate New York announced in August that masks will be mandatory for not only staff but also patients and visitors. They include United Health Services in Binghamton, Auburn Community Hospital in Auburn, University Hospital in Syracuse, and Samaritan Health facilities in Watertown, also located upstate.
How are hospitals like Baystate Health system in Massachusetts and the University of Chicago Medical Center in Illinois implementing mask mandates to protect their patients and staff?
R”COVID-19 Mask Mandates Reimposed in Multiple States as Cases Rise”
In response to a recent increase in COVID-19 cases, multiple states in the United States have announced the reimposition of mask mandates. Several hospitals have taken the initiative to enforce these mandates to ensure the safety and health of their patients, visitors, and employees.
One such hospital is the Baystate Health system in Massachusetts, which declared on September 15 that masks would be required for anyone entering patient rooms or patient care areas. This includes doctors, nurses, visitors, and patients alike. The hospital emphasized the need to reinstitute this requirement immediately to protect the well-being of everyone involved. Baystate Health stated that they would continuously monitor the COVID-19 situation in their communities and adjust their policies accordingly.
Similarly, the University of Chicago Medical Center in Illinois has implemented mask mandates for workers who have direct contact with patients. Employees without symptoms are exempted from wearing masks in certain areas like workrooms, public areas, break rooms, and during meetings. Dr. Emily Landon, the executive medical director for infection prevention and control at the hospital, emphasized the doubling rate of COVID-19 cases among employees and the increase in patient cases in all locations.
Mount Nittany Health in Pennsylvania also announced on September 14 that employees would be required to wear masks while engaging with patients. This mandate will be in place until September 29. However, it does not extend to visitors or patients. The hospital assured that they would monitor the situation and make necessary changes as appropriate. They urged patients and visitors with COVID-19 or respiratory illness symptoms to take appropriate precautions and wear masks in their facilities.
Additionally, Cape Regional Medical Center in Cape May County, New Jersey, confirmed the reinstatement of a mask mandate. While there is no mandate for visitors or patients, hospital staff is required to wear masks when providing direct patient care.
Recent data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed an 8.7 percent increase in hospitalizations across the United States in the week ending on September 2. However, it is crucial to note that the total number of COVID-19 hospital admissions remains relatively low compared to previous years and previous increases in hospitalizations.
Despite the increase in COVID-19 cases, some experts argue against alarming concerns. Last month, a doctor from Tufts Medicine stated that the recent rise in cases should not be a cause for major concern.
In conclusion, as COVID-19 cases rise in multiple states, hospitals are taking proactive measures to protect their patients, visitors, and employees. The reintroduction of mask mandates aims to mitigate the spread of the virus and ensure the safety of healthcare settings. Continuous monitoring of the COVID-19 situation and adjusting policies accordingly will be vital in navigating through this ongoing pandemic.
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