Mask Mandates Return to Hospitals in Several US States
In response to a slight increase in COVID-19 and influenza cases, New York City public hospitals, along with healthcare facilities in several states, have reinstated mask mandates.
This decision affects 11 hospitals, 30 health centers and five long-term care facilities within the NYC Health + Hospitals system. The mandate is a precautionary measure, as the current increase in cases is significantly lower than the peaks experienced during the height of the pandemic.
As of January 1, 2024, New York City reported a seven-day average of 2,131 COVID cases, according to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. This figure, though higher than previous weeks, is substantially lower than the count of 41,910 cases on January 1, 2022. Influenza saw a 3% increase in positive cases for the week ending December 30, 2023, while RSV cases decreased by 18% from the previous week.
The mask requirement is limited to patient care areas in the facilities. Dr. Ashwin Vasan, health commissioner, stated that the mandate aims to protect medical workers from respiratory illnesses. He also noted that city hospitals are not currently overwhelmed with patients.
Hospital systems in at least six other states, including California, Illinois, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Washington and Wisconsin, have implemented similar mask mandates.
Nationally, hospital admissions due to COVID-19 rose by 16.7% to 29,059 for the week ending December 23, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Omicron variant JN.1, accounting for about 39% to 50% of circulating variants in the U.S., does not appear to cause increased severity of illness. Influenza-related hospital admissions also increased to 14,732 for the same week.
Approximately 44% of adults in the U.S. had received the flu vaccination by late December, and only an estimated 19% had received updated COVID-19 vaccinations as of early December. The CDC advises individuals and institutions to consider various factors, including local COVID hospital admission levels and individual risk factors, when deciding to wear or require masks.
Scroll down to leave a comment and share your thoughts.
Leave a Comment