Citing rising COVID cases, these US hospital systems have now reinstated mask mandates
Amid rising COVID circumstances and hospitalizations all through the nation, a number of hospital systems or hospitals have reinstated mask-wearing necessities for sufferers and workers, as reported by Becker’s Hospital Review.
These bulletins come as COVID-related hospitalizations have risen 21.6% in the latest week and deaths have risen 21.4%, in keeping with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The numbers, nevertheless, are nonetheless far under the degrees that have been seen throughout the pandemic.
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As of Aug. 25, the next hospitals and well being systems are now requiring masks, as confirmed by Fox News Digital.
Here is the listing.
Amid rising COVID circumstances and hospitalizations all through the nation, a number of hospitals or hospital systems have reinstated mask-wearing necessities for each sufferers and workers. (iStock)
United Health Services in New York
This New York well being system reinstated masking insurance policies at its amenities on Aug. 23.
“Because of an uptick in COVID-19 cases, masks are once again required 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,” UHS wrote in an announcement on its web site.
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“The new policy is in effect immediately for all patients, visitors, employees, medical staff, volunteers, students and vendors,” the assertion continued.
“Masks are required at nurses’ stations and in conference rooms within clinical departments, including areas where patients register, wait, transport through, or receive testing and care.”
The bulletins about masks come as COVID-related hospitalizations have risen 21.6% in the latest week and deaths have risen 21.4%, in keeping with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (iStock)
Masks are additionally required in “common spaces.”
These embrace affected person care items, lobbies, public hallways, stairwells, elevators and cafeterias (except when persons are consuming or ingesting).
Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center, California
This California medical heart has reinstated the mask mandate amid an increase in optimistic COVID assessments as of Aug. 22.
“To ensure that we are helping protect the health and safety of our patients, our workforce and our community, we have reintroduced a mask mandate for physicians, staff, patients, members and visitors in the hospital and medical offices in the Santa Rosa Service Area,” Kaiser mentioned in an announcement.
As of Aug. 22, this California medical heart has reinstated the mask mandate amid an increase in optimistic COVID assessments. (iStock)
On its web site, the hospital states that “currently, masks are required upon entrance to the hospital and throughout your visit.”
Auburn Community Hospital, New York
This New York hospital is once more requiring masks — only one month after ending the mandate, as reported on Aug. 19.
All workers, sufferers and guests should put on masks in scientific areas at Auburn Community Hospital in Auburn, New York.
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“Face coverings are mandatory inside our facilities, regardless of your immunization status,” the hospital states on its web site.
“If you do not arrive with one or yours is deemed inappropriate, a mask will be provided to you. It must be worn at all times and must cover your nose and mouth.”
Hospitalized COVID sufferers might solely see one customer at a time — who should additionally put on full private protecting gear (PPE).
University Hospital in Syracuse, New York
As of Aug. 17, University Hospital in Syracuse has reinstated its masking requirement.
“Effective immediately, mandatory masking is required by all staff, visitors and patients in clinical areas of Upstate University Hospital, Upstate Community Hospital and ambulatory clinical spaces,” as acknowledged in a workers memo obtained by Syracuse.com.
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“Clinical areas are defined as any location patients gather, wait, transport thorough or receive care.”
What occurred to the ‘end of universal masking’?
In April 2023, a gaggle of well being care epidemiologists and infectious ailments consultants from throughout the nation revealed a paper within the Annals of Internal Medicine, by which they known as for an finish to common masking in hospitals and different well being care settings.
Upstate Medical University Hospital in Syracuse, New York, has reinstated its masking requirement. (iStock)
“After three years of universal masking in health care, the risk-benefit calculation has shifted,” mentioned Shira Doron, M.D., chief an infection management officer for Tufts Medicine well being system and hospital epidemiologist at Tufts Medical Center, in a press launch on the Mass General Brigham web site.
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“Masks do have downsides, such as impaired communication and disrupted human connection. We are at a stage of the pandemic where it now makes sense to end mandatory masking.”
Dr. Marc Siegel, scientific professor of drugs at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, mentioned he helps mask necessities in hospitals that have susceptible, high-risk sufferers.
In circumstances the place masks are used or required, Dr. Marc Siegel of New York mentioned these masks must be “KN95 or better” — and that folks ought to obtain directions for correct use. (iStock)
“I still wear a mask inside my medical center, though many don’t,” he informed Fox News Digital.
In one observational research at Mass General Brigham in July 2020, well being care staff appeared to point out decreased case numbers on account of masks, Siegel famous.
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In circumstances the place masks are used or required, the physician mentioned they need to be “KN95 or better” and that folks ought to obtain directions for correct use.
Added Siegel, “They should only be considered for a high volume of circulating respiratory viruses.”
“The mandates did not work. They’ve been studied over and over, and they didn’t decrease spread.”
The physician mentioned he doesn’t help common mask mandates, nevertheless.
During an look on “Fox & Friends Weekend” on Saturday, Siegel spoke about at present’s out there antiviral drug, vaccines and widespread immunity.
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“Most of us have had COVID, or people have had a vaccine and booster, and they have what’s called immune memory,” he mentioned.
“Mandating masks makes no sense whatsoever,” Siegel mentioned on “Fox & Friends Weekend” on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023. (Fox News)
“Most importantly, the mandates did not work,” Siegel continued. “They’ve been studied over and over, and they didn’t decrease spread.”
Studies have proven that many individuals put on masks improperly, the physician famous.
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“If you actually wore a mask in the proper way and it was the proper mask and you used it in the right setting, like a doctor’s office, it probably does something,” Siegel mentioned. “But does anybody do that? Certainly not 5-year-olds.”
He added, “So mandating masks makes no sense whatsoever.”
