Indoor mask mandates have been reintroduced across all New York City public hospitals in response to an uptick in respiratory viruses, including COVID-19 and influenza.
This requirement applies to the 11 hospitals, 30 health centers, and five long-term care facilities operated by NYC Health + Hospitals.
According to Dr. Ashwin Vasan, the city’s health commissioner, masks will now be mandatory in areas where patients receive treatment, as reported by local ABC News affiliate ABC 7 NY.
Vasan emphasized that hospitals have effectively managed the recent influx of patients without being overwhelmed.
Nonetheless, he highlighted that reinstating the mandate will play a crucial role in safeguarding healthcare staff from illness.
Data from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene indicates that the seven-day average of COVID-19 hospitalizations has decreased from 106 on December 20 to 50 on December 25.
However, this decline may be influenced by reporting delays during the holiday period.
Simultaneously, weekly influenza-related hospitalizations in the city have been steadily rising since early October.
For the week ending December 23, hospitalizations increased from 653 to 696, according to the New York State Department of Health.
This move aligns with similar actions taken by hospitals in at least six other states, including California, Illinois, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Washington, and Wisconsin.
The CDC reported 29,059 new weekly hospital admissions due to COVID-19 across the U.S. for the week ending December 23, marking the seventh consecutive week of increases and the highest figure since late January 2023.
Additionally, CDC data shows there were 14,732 new hospital admissions linked to influenza nationwide for the same week, up from 9,930 the previous week.
Beyond COVID-19 and flu, other respiratory infections have also been surging. Suffolk County on New York’s Long Island, for instance, has reported an increase in cases of pertussis (whooping cough).
The Suffolk County Department of Health Services disclosed 108 cases in 2023, with 100 reported since November 28, primarily affecting vaccinated children and their parents, as per a press release.
Officials clarified that no hospitalizations related to this outbreak have been reported to date.
