In response to an increase in respiratory virus cases, including COVID, flu, and RSV, UPMC will be reinstating its mask policy, effective next week.

UPMC said in a statement: 

UPMC is seeing an increase in cases of respiratory viruses, including Covid, influenza and RSV. To protect the health and safety of our employees, patients and visitors, everyone in our health care facilities will wear effective masks starting Dec. 20 which reduce transmission of respiratory viruses in health care settings. We will continue to monitor the number of cases in our communities and adjust our protocols as the situation evolves.

 

More information can be found on UPMC's mark policy can be found on their website.

Additionally, AHN St. Vincent will continue to take precautions with respiratory illness by having patients and staff wear masks. The hospital said it not implementing a broad mask requirement at this time. 

AHN said in a statement: 

According to CDC data and our own internal tracking, the numbers of emergency department visits and hospitalizations related to COVID-19 and flu remain low across AHN’s footprint and manageable at AHN Saint Vincent. While we will continue to take appropriate precautions at our hospitals and outpatient facilities when caring for patients with respiratory illness, including mask wearing among patients and staff, AHN is not implementing a broad masking requirement at this time. We will continue to monitor the situation to determine if and when a network-wide masking mandate is required.

 

More information can be found on AHN's website.