US hospitals reinstate mask mandates.
As COVID-19 cases continue to rise, several hospital systems have re-instated mask mandates. This has sparked concern among some prominent conservatives who have sounded the alarm in recent days.
However, there is a key difference with these new mask mandates. Unlike previous iterations, they only apply to staff and physicians, not patients or visitors.
UMass Memorial
In Massachusetts, UMass Memorial Hospital has confirmed that it will re-impose masking for staff. Patients and visitors are exempt from the mandate.
“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 hospital stated. “To protect our staff and patients, we are now requiring mandatory caregiver masking for all patient encounters in all licensed clinical areas.”
The hospital, based in Worcester, Massachusetts, has also stated that if the trend continues, masks may be required for everyone entering the hospital, including patients and visitors. A decision will be made after four weeks, following a re-evaluation of the COVID-19 situation.
“Please understand that these changes are not made lightly, and we acknowledge that a return to masking may be upsetting for some of our caregivers,” UMass Memorial reported.
United Health Services in New York
United Health Services in Binghamton, New York, has also announced the reinstatement of mask requirements for patients, visitors, staff, and doctors.
“Due to an increase in COVID-19 cases, masks are once again mandatory in all clinical areas at UHS Wilson Medical Center, UHS Binghamton General Hospital, UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital, and UHS Delaware Valley Hospital, as well as primary and specialty care sites,” stated United Health Services on its website.
The policy, effective immediately, applies to all patients, visitors, employees, medical staff, volunteers, students, and vendors. Masks must be worn at nurses’ stations, conference rooms, and all areas where patients register, wait, receive testing, or care.
Masks are also required in common spaces such as hospital lobbies, hallways, stairwells, cafeterias, and patient care units.
Auburn Community Hospital in New York
Auburn Community Hospital in Upstate New York has announced the reinstatement of mask requirements on-site, just a month after the previous mandate ended.
The mask mandate applies to patients, staff, and visitors, according to a statement posted on the hospital’s website.
“Face coverings are mandatory inside our facilities, regardless of your immunization status,” the hospital emphasized. “If you do not have a mask or yours is deemed inappropriate, one will be provided to you. Masks must be worn at all times and cover both your nose and mouth.”
In addition to masking, the hospital has implemented a policy allowing hospitalized COVID-19 patients to have only one visitor at a time, who must also wear full personal protective equipment.
Kaiser Permanente in Northern California
A Kaiser Permanente location in Santa Rosa, California, has announced the reinstatement of mask requirements due to a rise in COVID-19 cases. However, it clarified that the mandate only applies to staff and physicians, not visitors and patients.
Kaiser informed a local newspaper in Santa Rosa that it is 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.” However, face coverings are not required for those individuals.
“Our intent was to communicate that as of Tuesday, we have expanded the masking requirement for our employees and physicians to medical offices and clinic settings; we apologize for any confusion among Press Democrat readers,” stated the hospital in an updated statement.
“Visitors, patients, and members are strongly encouraged to also wear masks in these settings,” it continued. “We have not changed our masking requirements in the hospital, which have been in effect since April: employees and physicians are required to wear masks, and we ask visitors to wear masks when in
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