End of COVID era? Akron-Canton hospitals make masks optional for most visitors, patients

Most Northeast Ohio health systems have moved to a mask-optional policy for most of their patients and visitors at their hospitals and outpatient facilities, ending mask mandates that began in 2020 with the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, some hospitals are still requiring mask-wearing by patients and employees in some situations.

The move comes as health officials cite falling COVID-19 and influenza-related illnesses and increasing immunity in the region.

More: Another COVID booster is now approved for older people and those at high risk

Effective Thursday, Cleveland Clinic became the latest health system to go mask-optional. The Cleveland-based health system that operates Akron General, Medina Hospital, Mercy Hospital in Canton and Union Hospital in Dover announced in a press release that it would no longer require masks for caregivers or patients.

Summa Health, Akron Children’s Hospital, Western Reserve Hospital and Crystal Clinic all said they were no longer requiring masks, most having changed their policies recently.

Canton-based Aultman, which operates Aultman Hospital in Canton, Aultman Alliance Community Hospital and other regional sites, said it is still recommending and encouraging masks for patients, visitors and staff in the acute-care hospital setting and post-acute care areas.

University Hospitals, which operates UH Portage Medical Center, on Friday announced that it would be going mask-optional in non patient-care areas on Monday.

How many new COVID-19 cases and deaths are being reported in Stark County and Ohio?

COVID-19 illnesses and deaths are still occurring, but at a slower rate. According to the Ohio Department of Health COVID-19 dashboard, there have been a total of 3.43 million cases since the pandemic began in 2020, including 139,828 hospitalizations and 42,073 deaths in the state.

Numbers have been dropping. In the last month, Ohio had 18,745 cases, 15,180 hospitalizations and 58 deaths. At the height of the pandemic, the state reported more than 18,000 new cases in a day.

So far this month in Stark County, there have been 248 cases, including 401 hospitalizations and no deaths, according the state health department.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday recommended a second bivalent COVID-19 booster for adults over 65 years old and those at high risk at least four months after their last vaccine. The CDC on Wednesday approved the recommendation.

More: Cincinnati health systems remove COVID-19 mask mandates for guests at hospitals

Here’s what area health systems are doing:

Akron Children's Hospital

Akron Children’s policy of making masks optional for employees, patient families and visitors went into effect on March 15.  Parents and visitors are encouraged to wear a mask if they have respiratory or flu-like symptoms, and a family member may request staff or providers wear a mask while providing direct patient care to their child.

Aultman

The hospital system still recommends masking for patients, visitors and staff in the acute-care hospital setting and post-acute care areas.

"Colleagues are required to wear masks upon entry to any patient room or providing direct patient care within six feet of a patient, and when the colleague interacts with or provides care to a patient who is symptomatic, exposed or requiring droplet or airborne isolation," Aultman said in an email.

"Masking is encouraged but optional in outpatient care settings. If the patient prefers that their nurse or provider wears a mask, they will do so. We will continue to adjust our policies to provide the greatest degree of safety for our patients and community."

Cleveland Clinic

Beginning Thursday, masking became optional for patients, visitors and caregivers at Cleveland Clinic's U.S. facilities. Masking may still be required on certain units dedicated to the care of particularly vulnerable patients and is highly encouraged for those with respiratory symptoms or who have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19, the health system said. Masks will continue to be available at facilities.

“We are able to safely make this change as COVID-19 cases have decreased, and the proportion of patients needing hospitalization for COVID-19 has dropped significantly. This is likely because a large population has at least some immunity from vaccination and/or prior infection, and we now have more tools available to treat COVID-19. However, if a patient prefers that their provider wear a mask, the caregiver will do so,” the health system said.

The Cleveland Clinic said it will continue to adjust policies. "This may include requiring masking again in the fall, to help limit the spread of influenza and other respiratory viruses among patients and caregivers.”

More: Mask mandate at all 4 Columbus-area health systems to end due to falling COVID, flu rates

Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center

Crystal Clinic has been mask optional for quite some time for caregivers and patients, a spokeswoman said. Masks were first optional for patients and vaccinated staff around September 2022. Masking was reinstated in winter of 2022 and then lifted in January.

Summa Health

Summa Health updated its COVID-19 policy on March 31 and made masking optional for patients, visitors and employees. “Summit County's Community level of COVID transmission is currently 'low,' therefore masks can be worn based on personal preference or personal level of risk,” the health system said.

Masks are still required for the following situations:

• For employees who have new onset of respiratory symptoms (cough, runny nose, and/or sore throat).

• For employees with greater than 15 minutes exposure without the use of a mask to someone diagnosed with COVID-19.

• In clinical areas as per standard and transmission-based precautions.

• As per Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services mandate for unvaccinated health care personnel with the exception of employees who work remotely or off-site, non-clinical locations.

Western Reserve Hospital

Western Reserve Hospital in Cuyahoga Falls recently made masks optional for patients and visitors only. An exact date was not provided. Patients and visitors are still “strongly encouraged to wear a mask,” the hospital said. "Visitors may be required to wear PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) dependent upon patient isolation/precautionary status. All those in patient-facing roles who are providing care to patients are required to wear a mask.”

University Hospitals

University Hospitals on Friday said that effective Monday masks will be required only in patient-care areas. These areas include patient rooms, during direct patient interactions with health care givers in patient care areas, and in waiting rooms reserved for patients (such as outpatient waiting rooms).

Masks will no longer be required in common areas of buildings not used for patient care, including cafeterias, elevators, or parking structures, the health system, which has operations in Cleveland, Portage County and outpatient offices in Summit County said.

Includes reporting by the Canton Repository.

Betty Lin-Fisher can be reached at 330-996-3724 or blinfisher@thebeaconjournal.com

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron-Canton hospitals update policies to make masks optional