Mass. healthcare network brings back staff mask mandate amid ‘dramatic increase’ in COVID cases

WORCESTER, Mass. — A Massachusetts healthcare network has reinstated a masking policy for all staff members in clinical settings amid a “dramatic increase” in COVID-positive employees in recent weeks.

In a statement sent to caregivers on Thursday, Umass Memorial Health announced the return to masking as a “protective measure for our staff and patients.”

“We have continued to see a dramatic increase in the number of COVID-19-positive employees over the past two weeks, which has led to exposures of both fellow caregivers and patients,” the statement read. “In response to this, as a protective measure for our staff and patients, effective immediately we are requiring mandatory caregiver masking for all patient encounters in all licensed clinical areas.”

Masks will not be required for common areas, but masks are strongly encouraged given the increased spread of the virus. Mask use is also encouraged for patients and visitors, but it’s not required at this time.

“Should we continue to see increased transmission rates, we will need to further expand the mask requirement to include anyone who enters the building,” the statement added.

The healthcare system noted that it will continue to monitor the viral trends closely and reevaluate the mandate in four weeks.

The recent uptick in cases comes as CDC and WHO officials keep a close watch on a new “highly mutated” variant known as BA.2.86.

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