Amid rising COVID cases and hospitalizations throughout the country, several hospital systems or hospitals have reinstated mask-wearing requirements for patients and staff, as reported by Becker’s Hospital Review.
These announcements come as COVID-related hospitalizations have risen 21.6% in the most recent week and deaths have risen 21.4%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The numbers, however, are still far below the levels that were seen during the pandemic.
As of Aug. 25, the following hospitals and health systems are now requiring masks, as confirmed by Fox News Digital.
Here is the list.
This New York health system reinstated masking policies at its facilities 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 website.
“The new policy is in effect immediately for all patients, visitors, employees, medical staff, volunteers, students and vendors,” the statement 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.”
Masks are also required in “common spaces.”
These include patient care units, lobbies, public hallways, stairwells, elevators and cafeterias (with the exception of when people are eating or drinking).
Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center, California
This California medical center has reinstated the mask mandate amid a rise in positive COVID tests 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 said in a statement.
