Hospitals in at least four U.S. states, including New York, California, Illinois, and Massachusetts, have reimposed mask mandates due to a surge in COVID cases, seasonal flu, and other respiratory illnesses. Healthcare facilities in these states are now enforcing mandatory mask-wearing for both patients and providers.
New York City Health Commissioner, Dr. Ashwin Vasan, informed WABC TV on Wednesday that mask mandates had been reinstated across all 11 of the city’s public hospitals, 30 health centers, and five long-term care facilities. The decision aims to prevent staffing shortages, with Dr. Vasan citing the challenges faced during the Omicron wave in 2022, where frontline health workers were not only falling ill but were also sidelined due to COVID.
According to the most recent weekly data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were over 29,000 COVID-related hospitalizations in the U.S. from December 17-23, representing a more than 16% increase from the previous week. Additionally, the CDC reported over 14,700 flu-related hospitalizations during the same period.
Mask mandates were contentious issues during the COVID pandemic, sparking political and cultural debates. Some individuals rejected medical advice, expressing anger over mandates, while others adhered to mask-wearing guidelines. The Supreme Court, dominated by conservatives, struck down President Joe Biden’s federal vaccine-or-test mandate for companies, and a judge appointed by his Republican predecessor invalidated the public transportation mask mandate.
With over 1.1 million COVID-related deaths in the United States, according to CDC figures, the reinstatement of mask mandates reflects the ongoing efforts to curb the spread of the virus. Several healthcare institutions, such as Rush University medical system in Chicago and Berkshire Health Systems in Massachusetts, have reintroduced mandatory masking in specified areas of their facilities.
In California, Los Angeles County reinstated masking at all licensed healthcare facilities on Saturday, responding to the resurgence of cases. The move reflects the ongoing challenges faced by healthcare providers in managing the evolving landscape of the pandemic. Source: Reuters
