Saturday 06/December/2025 – 01:26 PM
It restored several provinces American Requiring the wearing of masks inside hospitals and medical facilities, after an unexpected rise in cases of respiratory diseases in recent weeks, led by the Corona virus, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
A rise in hospital admissions prompts the return of masks
According to what was published by the British newspaper Daily Mail, in New Jersey, two of the largest health networks in the state, Hackensack Meridian Health and RWJ Barnabas Health, announced the re-imposition of wearing masks on employees, patients and visitors inside hospitals as of December 1, after a clear increase in admissions, especially among the elderly over 65 years of age and young children.
The health networks explained that the step to return the masks aims to protect the groups most vulnerable to complications, stressing that the respiratory virus season has arrived early this year.
Similar policies in California
In California, Sonoma County, one of the wealthiest and most liberal counties, has remanded the wearing of masks inside nursing homes, long-term care facilities, rehabilitation clinics and dialysis clinics since November 1, warning of the risk of a rise in infections heading into the winter.
Dr. Karen Smith, interim health officer, confirmed that the risk to patients at risk of complications remains high, which requires the continued wearing of masks in patient care areas.
Quadruple viral season puts pressure on the health system
State data indicated a gradual increase in hospitalizations due to what experts call the quadruple epidemic, which includes:
• Coronavirus
• Influenza (especially H3N2 strain)
• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
• Seasonal colds
The latest surveillance data showed that hospitalization rates due to RSV are highest among children under 4 years of age and the elderly.
In Sonoma State, public health laboratories revealed a significant increase in influenza activity, with 72 new positive cases recorded in one week, and the percentage of positive cases rising more than 13 times in nine weeks.
In contrast, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has not updated COVID and RSV data since September, adding to the uncertainty about the size of the current wave.
While hospitals and clinics in other states indicated that they may reimpose masks if the rate of transmission of infection in society increases, stressing that they reserve the right to apply preventive measures when needed.
