Mass General Brigham 'strongly encouraging' masking for visitors as respiratory infections spike

"With respiratory infections on the rise in Massachusetts and flu cases spiking, the state's largest hospital system says patients and visitors are "strongly encouraged" to wear masks during doctors appointments. For the time being, Mass General Brigham said its health care providers will be required to wear masks during direct patient interactions, including meetings in patient rooms or other clinical care areas. Masks are not required in lobbies or other common areas at Mass General Brigham facilities, according to the health system's website."

"Patients who opt to wear their own mask to an appointment will be asked to wear a facility-issued mask on top. "We ask all patients who are wearing masks to do this because some patients are required to wear masks," MGB's website explains. "By wearing one of our masks on top of your home mask, it helps us know that the mask you are wearing is clean and effective.""

"MGB's call to mask comes as data from the state's Department of Public Health estimates "very high" Influenza-like illness activity for the week of Dec. 21. According to the DPH, an estimated one in five emergency room visits last week were related to acute respiratory disease. So far this season, children under the age of 5 and seniors over the age of 80 have had by far the highest rates of respiratory illness-related ER visits."

Mass General Brigham requires health care providers to wear masks during direct patient interactions, including meetings in patient rooms and clinical care areas. Masks are not required in lobbies or other common areas. Patients and visitors are advised, but not required, to mask, especially if they have a fever, flu-like symptoms, or are recovering from a respiratory cold. Patients who wear their own mask to an appointment will be asked to wear a facility-issued mask on top so staff can be confident the mask is clean and effective. Massachusetts Department of Public Health estimates very high influenza-like illness activity for the week of Dec. 21, with about one in five emergency room visits related to acute respiratory disease. Children under five and adults over eighty show the highest ER visit rates this season.

Read at Boston.com