Health experts say respiratory illnesses like COVID-19, the flu and RSV are on the rise and those numbers are going to continue to increase as people return from the holidays. It’s prompted Main Line Health to bring back universal masking at its facilities. temporarily NBC10’s Brian Sheehan has more.
Face masks are making a comeback at one Philadelphia-area health system amid an increase of respiratory illnesses like flu and COVID.
Masks are required for patients and visitors at Main Line Health facilities, officials announced. The masking requirement begins on Thursday, Jan. 4, and will last for at least two weeks.
"This is for protection for everybody -- both the patients in the hospital, the health care providers themselves and the community at large," Main Line Health Chief of Infectious Diseases Dr. Brett Gilbert told NBC10.
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The new masking requirement comes with flu cases nearly tripling in Pennsylvania over the past three weeks, according to health department data.
Hospitalizations for COVID infections in Pennsylvania increased more than 25% in just a week, according to the latest CDC data.
“There’s been a steady increase of influenza and COVID – both in quantity and severity – over the last several weeks in our health care system,” Gilbert said.
If you forget to bring a mask with you, masks will be available at each facility.
You will be asked to wear a mask in the following locations:
- Lankenau Medical Center
- Bryn Mawr Hospital
- Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital
- Paoli Hospital
- Riddle Hospital
- Mirmont Treatment Center inpatient and outpatient locations
- Main Line Health Concordville
- Main Line Health King of Prussia
- Main Line Health Exton Square
- Main Line Health Broomall
- Main Line Health Newtown Square
- Main Line Health Collegeville
- All Main Line HealthCare locations
As of Wednesday, Jan. 3, Main Line Health is the only health system in our region with a renewed mask requirement.
This new push for mask-wearing comes as many are heading back to work and school after the holiday season and are bringing a surge of winter illnesses with them.
It is pretty common to see a spike this time of year after holiday gatherings made it easy to pass germs around.
From COVID, Flu and RSV infections are up across much of the country and in our area. The latest data from the CDC shows more than 30 states are seeing high or very high flu activity.
Despite the infection surge, the CDC says that only 18% of Americans have gotten the latest COVID booster while less than half of adults have gotten their flu shots.
ChristianaCare and Tower Health are also urging all patients and visitors to wear masks. Officials with each provider say that mask-wearing is not required, but strongly encouraged.
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