Penn Health says patients, staff, visitors must mask up as flu, COVID surge

With flu on the rise and area hospitals seeing an increase in the number of patients with COVID, RSV and other respiratory illnesses, mask mandates are reappearing.

Both the University of Pennsylvania Health System and Jefferson Health issued directives late Friday that masking will be required for staff working with patients and patients in emergency departments and other congregant settings in hospitals and urgent care centers.

Penn described the directive, which starts Monday as "during all patient care/patient-facing activities, and in all places where patients may be encountered."

"Patients who tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days or who have symptoms of COVID-19 (cough, fever, sore throat, nasal congestion) must wear a mask," Penn Health stated.

And visitors to Penn Health facilities who tested positive for COVID-19 or who have symptoms are not allowed to enter, even with a mask.

Jefferson said its directive starts now and will remain in effect through Jan. 29, the height of the flu season.

"All visitors to our other healthcare settings should be strongly encouraged to mask and should not visit if they have symptoms of a respiratory virus infection," Jefferson stated.

Jefferson also wants its pediatric facilities to check the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination status of patients. It reported a measles case to the Philadelphia Dept. of Health last month.

Hospitals in South Jersey have also restarted masking mandates.

Mask mandates: Some South Jersey hospitals bring back mask rules as flu, RSV, COVID on rise

COVID, flu cases rising

As of Dec. 30, the confirmed case count for flu in Pennsylvania had risen to 47,358, up from 32,998 the week before, the state Department of Health reported.

COVID is also making a comeback with an increase in hospital admissions.

And RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) has been identified in 30,689 cases so far this fall and winter though the numbers have dropped in recent weeks, the state reported.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is concerned about low vaccination rates this winter. It released data Dec. 14 showing that as of mid-November, there were 7.4 million fewer influenza vaccine doses administered nationwide to adults in pharmacies and physician offices when compared with the 2022-23 flu season. COVID-19 vaccination rates for children and adults remains low, as are RSV vaccination rates.

The CDC is warning that fewer vaccinations coupled with increases in national and international respiratory disease activity "could lead to more severe disease and increased healthcare capacity strain in the coming weeks."

At Jefferson hospitals, including their Abington, Bucks County and Lansdale locations, there is "an uptick mostly in flu and COVID cases in the Emergency Departments," said hospital spokeswoman Ashley Jefferson. The hospital also noted

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The situation is the same at St. Mary's.

"Like most hospitals in our region and across the country, St. Mary Medical Center is seeing a significant increase in seasonal respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19 and influenza. These increases are creating a surge in patients seeking care in hospital emergency departments, which impacts hospital volumes, workforce capacity and emergency department wait times," said Jason Griffith, communications manager for Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic.

Masking mandate reviews

St. Mary has not implemented required masking but is watching the situation closely.

Doylestown Hospital has not seen a rise in respiratory admissions compared to last year but also is keeping an eye on patient data.

"Case levels are monitored daily, and while we are not currently requiring masking, any unexpected spikes would warrant further review and evaluation of our masking policy," said Dr. Scott Levy, vice president and chief medical officer for Doylestown Health. "We always encourage those who are at elevated risk to mask whenever they are in public, in addition to when they visit us here at Doylestown Hospital."

Lower Bucks Hospital spokesperson Michelle Aliprantis said the hospital has not seen a rise in respiratory admissions and is not requiring masking at this time.

"Currently, we are monitoring our census closely with regard to any respiratory cases while maintaining the safety of our patients and staff.  Adjustments will be made as necessary in accordance with CDC protocols," she said.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Suburban hospitals watching flu, COVID data as Penn requires masking