Lehigh Valley Health Network eases masking mandates at hospitals, health care facilities

Lehigh Valley Health Network has announced it will relax face mask mandates in hospitals and health care facility areas not associated with patient care as of March 6.

Going forward, visitors to LVHN hospitals and health care facilities will have the choice of whether or not to wear a mask in spaces such as cafeterias, gift shops, chapels, pharmacies, and patient education and support group meetings on hospital campuses, the network announced Friday evening.

Masking will remain mandatory in all patient care areas at LVHN locations in order to maintain a barrier against the spread of COVID-19 to patients and caregivers. Anyone with respiratory illness symptoms will continue to be asked to always wear a mask in any LVHN facility.

LVHN noted masks are required at all LVPG practice locations, including in the waiting room; in emergency rooms and registration areas, on inpatient floors and all other patient care areas including procedure areas and therapy/rehabilitation spaces; at all diagnostic care centers and their waiting rooms; at all ExpressCare locations' registration areas, waiting rooms and exam rooms.

LVHN currently includes 13 hospital campuses, including one in East Stroudsburg, one in Lehighton, four in Allentown, two in Bethlehem, one in Easton, one in Hazleton, two in Pottsville, and one in Dickson City. The network also counts 8 health centers; numerous primary and specialty care physician practices; 20 ExpressCARE locations including the area’s only Children's ExpressCARE; pharmacy, imaging, home health, rehabilitation and lab services; and preferred provider services through Valley Preferred.

“Across the country, hospitals and health networks are transitioning their masking guidance to allow more flexibility in certain areas,” Dr. Timothy Friel, chair of LVHN's Department of Medicine, said. “We feel it’s appropriate given the state of the pandemic and the downward trend locally in positive tests for both COVID-19 and flu.”

Updated signage will be placed in the new mask optional LVHN locations and masks will be available near patient care areas.

From 2021Mask mandate: Pocono schools react to vacated DOH order

As of March 3, the Keystone State has counted 2,888,230 confirmed cases of COVID-19, along with 632,583 probable cases and 50,281 deaths linked to the virus, according to the Department of Health.

According to the Pennsylvania COVID-19 Dashboard, as of March 3, Monroe County has seen 45,954 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 2,141 probable cases and 594 deaths related to the virus; Pike has seen 11,592 confirmed cases, 1,814 probable cases and 112 deaths; Wayne has seen 10,495 confirmed cases, 2,839 probable cases and 204 deaths; and Carbon has seen 18,689 confirmed cases, 1,515 probable cases and 345 deaths.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continue to recommend masking as a prevention against COVID-19, especially for those who have pre-existing conditions which could exacerbate the virus.

The CDC's website includes a tool for individuals to look up COVID-19 community levels in their counties. Monroe, Carbon and Wayne counties are currently at a medium level, while Pike is listed at the low level.

The Mayo Clinic notes N95 masks offer the highest level of protection against COVID-19, exceeding the benefits of cloth and surgical masks.

"It offers more protection than a medical mask does because it filters out both large and small particles when the wearer inhales. Non-surgical N95s can be used by the general public," the Mayo Clinic advises, adding KN95, medical/surgical, and cloth masks also provide some protection.

“This is a small change, but one we feel is medically appropriate, based on the sustained downward trend in local COVID-19 transmission,” Dr. Alex Benjamin, LVHN's Chief Infection Control and Prevention Officer, said. “Just as with prior surges of COVID-19, we can adjust our masking policies and operations as needed to minimize the risk of the ongoing pandemic to our health care workers, patients and visitors.”

Benjamin said LVHN continues to urge the community to keep up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters to provide additional protection. While the DOH states about two-thirds of Pennsylvanians are considered full vaccinated, rates are much lower for those who received boosters.

This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: Lehigh Valley Health Network eases masking at Pennsylvania hospitals