
(Scypre.com) – New York City public hospitals have implemented indoor mask mandates, joining a nationwide trend among healthcare facilities, reports say.
This requirement is active in 11 hospitals, 30 health centers, and five long-term care facilities within the NYC Health + Hospitals system.
The decision is a response to a recent increase in COVID-19 cases and influenza respiratory infections, although the current surge is modest compared to previous pandemic peaks.
As of January 1, 2024, the seven-day average of COVID cases in New York City stands at 2,131, a slight uptick from previous weeks. However, this figure is significantly lower than the count on January 1, 2022, which was 41,910, almost 20 times higher.
Influenza cases saw a 3% increase for the week ending December 30, 2023, while positive cases of RSV decreased by 18% over the previous week.
The indoor masking requirement specifically applies to patient care areas within the facilities, as confirmed by Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. While the mandate aims to protect medical workers from respiratory illnesses, Dr. Vasan noted that the city hospitals are not currently overwhelmed with patients.
Dr. Aaron Glatt, Chief of Infectious Diseases at Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital, emphasized the importance of masking as an effective measure to reduce transmission of respiratory viral infections.
Several hospital systems in other states, including California, Illinois, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Washington, and Wisconsin, have also implemented mask mandates.
Nationwide, hospital admissions due to COVID-19 increased by 16.7% to 29,059 for the week ending December 23, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The omicron variant JN.1 is expected to account for 39% to 50% of circulating variants in the United States.
Despite its rapid growth, the CDC stated that there is no evidence suggesting an increased risk to public health compared to other circulating variants.
Dr. Marc Siegel, a clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and Fox News medical contributor, acknowledged the rise in hospitalizations due to a combination of COVID and flu, supporting the use of masks in hospitals.
While he does not endorse universal mask mandates, Siegel believes they make sense in a hospital setting where healthcare workers are more likely to comply and choose high-grade masks, enhancing their effectiveness in preventing viral spread among vulnerable patients.