Hospitals in at least four U.S. states have implemented mandatory mask-wearing following a rise in coronavirus infections, thought to be exacerbated by the emergence of a predominant new strain of the virus.
Medical services in California, Illinois, Massachusetts and New York, as well as Washington, D. C. , have reinstated regulations that make mask wearing mandatory for some people, after the COVID-19 pandemic officially ended in the United States.
This comes as the states of New England and the Southeast are among those that have seen the largest increases in hospitalizations from the virus over the past week on record. On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that nationally, the number of positive cases increased through 12. 7% in the week leading up to Dec. 23 of the previous week.
Last week, Mass General Brigham—the largest health system in Massachusetts—said that from January 2, masks would be required for healthcare staff directly engaging with patients until respiratory illnesses are deemed to have fallen below 2.85 percent of patients they deal with.
Although the rule does not increase patients and visitors, they are strongly encouraged to wear masks. The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston said it will require masks for patients starting Dec. 18.
Hospitals in New York City, as well as Suffolk and Nassau counties, have also reintroduced mask mandates, with medical professionals citing a slight increase in cases after the Thanksgiving holiday.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) said on Dec. 14 that it “recommends physical care services conduct mitigation efforts to minimize the spread of respiratory viruses,” adding “gym-scale mask use” in counties with the highest infection rates.
According to the most recent figures from the CDC, 16 counties lately have “high” levels of hospital admissions with COVID in the week ending Dec. 23. Illinois is among the states in the region experiencing a moderate weekly backlog of positive tests.
The IDPH said the measure was implemented not only because of COVID, but also because of the “high transmission” of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza.
Lately, staff at MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, D. C. , have been required to wear masks at work.
Officials in Yolo County, California, have also asked patients, staff and visitors to hospitals to wear masks due to respiratory infections.
Marin County hospitals have implemented a mask mandate since Nov. 1. In Santa Clara County, masks have been mandatory since April 4. In San Francisco, masks are mandatory in hospitals for all doctors and in prisons.
During the summer, some private institutions, hospital operators and colleges reintroduced requirements for staff and visitors to wear masks while at their sites to limit the spread of COVID infections. Many of these mandates were eased after cases appeared to plateau in early September, though some hospitals in New Jersey reintroduced them in response to infection rates.
The recent uptick in positive cases and hospitalizations with COVID is something health officials have expected during the winter months. Colder weather tends to lead to an increased spread of viruses and other infections as immunity is lower.
As of the time of writing, no states have implemented a statewide mandate to wear face masks.
In September, Texas banned mask mandates for public spaces altogether—though it exempted state-supported living centers, Texas Department of Criminal Justice sites and government-owned healthcare facilities from the prohibition.
In a broader context, mask mandates have a thorny political issue, as they confront what some see as an infringement on their personal freedoms with what health officials see as one of the measures restricting the spread of the virus among the general population.
There are differing opinions among the scientific community as to the efficacy of mask-wearing, though many agree that when used in tandem with other measures—such as washing hands, social distancing and vaccination—they help stop the virus spreading.
Aleks Phillips is a Newsweek U.S. News Reporter based in London. His focus is on U.S. politics and the environment. He has covered climate change extensively, as well as healthcare and crime. Aleks joined Newsweek in 2023 from the Daily Express and previously worked for Chemist and Druggist and the Jewish Chronicle. He is a graduate of Cambridge University. Languages: English.
You can get in touch with Aleks by emailing [email protected].