Covid mask requirement back on the agenda in the US

Covid-19, which has been silent for a long time, has come to the agenda again due to the increase in cases in some states in the USA. Covid-19 masks were again mandatory in hospitals in the US states of New York, California, Illinois and Massachusetts. The Covid mask requirement is expected to expand further.

Covid mask obligation has been reintroduced!

Many people have recently been hospitalized due to Covid-19 and seasonal flu in many states of the USA. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported an upward trend in cases hospitalized due to Covid-19. In response, local authorities across the US have reintroduced the mask requirement in hospitals.

New York state health official Dr. Ashwin Vasan made a statement on the issue. In a statement made yesterday, it was stated that masks were made mandatory in 11 public hospitals, 30 health centers and 5 patient care facilities in the city. Los Angeles County officials, on the other hand, ordered all staff and visitors at health facilities to wear masks.

Vasan said, “The last thing we want is a shortage of staff. In the Omicron wave in 2022, our health workers got sick as well as the public.” One of the reasons why masks are mandatory in hospitals is to prevent the virus from infecting healthcare workers.

According to the latest data released by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), more than 29,000 people were hospitalized nationwide due to Covid between December 17-23, 2023. There was a 16% increase in the number of people hospitalized compared to the week before. We can say that this is an important factor in the introduction of the obligation to wear a covid mask. However, in the same period, more than 14,700 people across the country were hospitalized due to influenza.

The obligation to wear masks is currently only applied in hospitals. However, the authorities are in talks to implement the measures in other public spaces.