A number of hospital systems in the Chicago region have brought back mask policies in response to a rise in respiratory virus cases and updated guidelines from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
A number of health systems, including over 20 hospitals, several doctor procedures, and urgent care centres, have enforced full or partial mask laws because to an increase in COVID-19, influenza, and RSV cases.
The Illinois Department of Public Health released guidelines earlier in December recommending mask use in healthcare institutions, which is why the policy adjustments were made. IDPH urged medical facilities around the state to institute mask rules in patient care areas due to the surge in respiratory illnesses, especially when treating patients with weakened immune system symptoms.
In the news release, “With the alarming rise in respiratory viruses we are seeing across the state and the country, IDPH is recommending healthcare facilities take precautions to reduce the spread of these viruses and protect their patients, staffs and visitors.” “We are most concerned with healthcare facilities in counties with elevated respiratory virus transmission and hospitalization levels and recommend masking in patient care areas, especially in emergency departments and areas caring for patients who are immunocompromised.”
The most recent publicly accessible data shows that, as it did the week before, ten counties in Illinois were reported as having a high level of COVID-19 hospitalisations during the previous week.
The recently established Endeavour Health, which runs several suburban hospitals, revised its masking policy on Tuesday, December 26, in accordance with IDPH guidelines. Patients and guests who exhibit any respiratory symptoms are mandated to wear masks under the revised policy. The health system stated that patients in specific high-risk regions are strongly encouraged to wear masks, and that visitors to patients in high-risk areas might be required to do the same.
Edward-Elmhurst Health, Northwest Community Healthcare, Swedish Hospital, and NorthShore University HealthSystem make up Endeavour Health.
Due to the increase in respiratory diseases, Stroger Hospital and Provident Hospital, among other Cook County Health facilities, imposed a mask requirement on Tuesday. All staff members, patients, and visitors who are two years of age or older are required to wear masks in waiting areas and exam rooms.
According to its website, Advocate Health Care, which runs 11 hospitals in the Chicago region, recently instituted a limited-visitor policy as a safeguard against seasonal viruses for both staff and patients. Patients’ rooms and other high-risk patient care settings are among the places where visitors are required by policy to wear masks. In other regions, masks are not required.
On December 20, Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, in the south suburbs, revised its visits policy in response to “increasing respiratory illnesses in our community.” At the hospital’s urgent care centres in Mokena and New Lenox, as well as its emergency departments in Homer Glen and New Lenox, patients who test positive for respiratory symptoms are mandated to wear masks.
Ascension, which runs Saint Joseph Hospital in Joliet and Alexian Brothers Hospital in Hoffman Estates, as well as OSF Health Care, the parent company of Little Company of Mary Medical Centre in Evergreen Park, are among the other area health systems that have adopted mask requirements.