Taikwan Wright waits outside while his nephew is treated for asthma in the ICU in Bellevue Hospital in New York on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2023. The previous week, New York City resumed a mask mandate for the city’s 11 public hospitals. (AP Photo/Mary Conlon)
In response to an anticipated surge in flu, COVID-19, and other illnesses post-holidays, an increasing number of U.S. hospitals are implementing mask mandates and visitor restrictions.
New York City's public hospitals, along with some in Los Angeles and Massachusetts, recently enforced mask requirements, with some hospitals reinstating masking rules for employees months ago in anticipation of rising seasonal illnesses.
While experts predict this winter may not be as deadly as previous ones, the country could still witness a significant number of hospitalizations and deaths.
Flu and COVID-19 infections have been on the rise for weeks, with high levels of flu-like illness reported in 31 states before Christmas. Dr. Mandy Cohen, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, notes an acceleration in flu cases in early January. However, there is optimism as cases may peak by the end of the month and then decline. This year's flu strain, although surging, is generally less severe, and current vaccines seem well-matched to the strain.
Vaccination rates have been lower this year, with 44% of U.S. adults receiving flu shots by December 23, and only 19% reported to have updated COVID-19 shots by early December. COVID-19 cases, while causing more severe disease than the flu, are rising less dramatically.
Health officials are monitoring the JN.1 variant of the coronavirus, known as omicron, which accounted for an estimated 44% of COVID-19 cases just before Christmas. While the variant may spread more easily, there is no evidence it causes more severe disease, and current evidence suggests vaccines work against it.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encourages people to check their county's status on an agency website to make decisions about mask-wearing and other precautions. Dr. Cohen emphasizes the importance of vaccination and prompt treatment for flu and COVID-19. Despite concerns about multiple diseases circulating simultaneously, some areas have seen a plateau or decrease in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases, a common cause of mild cold-like symptoms that can be serious for infants and older individuals.
Hospitals, such as Hillsdale Hospital in southern Michigan, are imposing visitor limitations due to a 65% increase in respiratory illness activity. Dr. Nichole Ellis, the hospital's medical chief of staff, highlights the complexity of dealing with multiple diseases concurrently, with patients experiencing combinations of RSV, COVID-19, and influenza, making it more challenging to manage and treat these cases.
