Hospitals Reintroduce Mask Requirements as COVID-19, Flu Cases Rise

An announcement regarding the need for face masks is posted at a Buffalo Grove, Illinois, hospital on January 13, 2023.Photo byNAM Y. HUH/AP

As respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19 and influenza surge across the United States, various health care facilities are reinstating mask requirements and recommendations to mitigate transmission risks.

Mass General Brigham, Massachusetts' largest health system, commenced a mask requirement for healthcare staff interacting directly with patients, effective Tuesday. Patients and visitors are encouraged, but not mandated, to wear facility-issued masks during direct interactions in patient rooms and clinical care areas, as per the health system's statement.

Similarly, Los Angeles County reinstated its mask requirement for staff and issued a directive for visitors across licensed health care facilities due to a notable rise in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths reported in recent weeks. Despite being below last winter's peak, the county health department urges sensible precautions to curb transmission.

In Wisconsin, UW Health has also reintroduced mandatory mask-wearing in medical clinics, outpatient care, and waiting rooms to reinforce preventive measures.

However, a widespread return to public mask-wearing is not anticipated, despite the escalating spread of respiratory diseases nationwide. According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), both COVID-19 and flu cases are on the rise in the U.S., resulting in numerous hospital admissions. Notably, infants and older adults are experiencing higher emergency department visits due to COVID-19.

Despite the surge in respiratory illnesses, national hospital bed occupancy, including intensive care units, remains stable. Most new COVID-19 cases in the U.S. stem from a new variant, JN.1. The CDC, however, currently sees no evidence indicating that JN.1 poses a higher risk to public health compared to other circulating variants.