As the COVID-19 pandemic enters its third year, some states in the U.S. are facing a surge of cases and hospitalizations that are putting pressure on their health care systems. In response, some hospitals and health care facilities have brought back mask mandates for their staff and visitors, while some local governments have also issued new mask requirements for indoor public settings.
According to an article by Arianna Johnson on Forbes, hospitals in at least four U.S. states have reinstated mask mandates amid a rise in cases of COVID-19, seasonal flu and other respiratory illnesses. These states are California, Illinois, Massachusetts and New York, as well as Washington, D.C.
The article cites Kaiser Permanente, a health care company that operates in eight states and D.C., as an example of a health care provider that has reimplemented mandatory masking at its Santa Rosa, California, facilities. The company said that the decision was based on the high level of COVID-19 transmission in the community, as well as the increased risk of flu and other respiratory viruses during the winter season.
Another example is New York-Presbyterian Hospital, one of the largest and most comprehensive health care systems in the nation, which announced that it would require all staff, patients and visitors to wear masks at all times, regardless of their vaccination status. The hospital said that the move was necessary to protect the health and safety of everyone in its facilities, as well as to comply with the state’s public health guidance.
Local Governments Follow Suit
In addition to hospitals and health care facilities, some local governments have also issued new mask mandates for indoor public settings, such as restaurants, bars, gyms, theaters and retail stores. These localities include Los Angeles County, California; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Boston, Massachusetts; and Washington, D.C.
These local mask mandates are often in contrast with the state-level policies, which vary widely across the country. Some states, such as Florida, Texas and Arizona, have banned local governments from imposing mask mandates, while others, such as Hawaii, Nevada and Oregon, have statewide mask requirements in place.
According to the article by Johnson, the local mask mandates are driven by the rising COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in these areas, as well as the emergence of new variants of the virus, such as the omicron subvariant BA.2.86, which has been detected in several countries and is under monitoring by the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Impact and Challenges of Mask Mandates
The article by Johnson also discusses the impact and challenges of mask mandates, both from a public health and a social perspective. On one hand, mask mandates are supported by scientific evidence that shows that wearing masks can reduce the transmission of respiratory droplets that carry the virus, and can also protect the wearer from inhaling these droplets. On the other hand, mask mandates are opposed by some people who view them as an infringement on their personal freedom and choice, and who question their effectiveness and necessity.
The article quotes several public health experts who weigh in on the benefits and drawbacks of mask mandates. One of them is Dr. Marcus Plescia, the chief medical officer for the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, who says that mask mandates are a useful tool to prevent the spread of the virus, especially in indoor settings where ventilation is poor and social distancing is difficult. Another one is Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious diseases professor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, who says that mask mandates are unlikely to be implemented at the national level, given the political polarization and resistance that they face. He says that instead of broad government mandates, some institutions may respond to rising case counts by implementing temporary mask requirements, such as schools and businesses.
The article concludes by saying that mask mandates are a contentious and complex issue that reflects the ongoing challenges of managing the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. It says that while some states and localities are reinstating mask mandates to curb the surge of cases and hospitalizations, others are maintaining or lifting their mask policies, depending on their local conditions and preferences.