It's no longer just cold and flu season, "respiratory virus season" includes Covid-19 and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, among other viruses that can make people miserable and in some cases seriously ill. To protect patients, staff and visitors, Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula is requiring everyone in patient care areas to wear masks from Nov. 1 to Jan. 31, 2024.
In addition, Montage Health, CHOMP's parent company, is recommending masks for patients and visitors to its facilities, including MoGo Urgent Care, CHOMP outpatient services, Montage Medical Group and Ohana. They will be required for staff in patient care areas, according to a Montage press release sent Oct. 31.
"As health care professionals, we are entrusted to provide a safe environment for our patients and everyone who walks through our doors," said Dr. Martha Blum, a Montage Health infectious disease expert, in the press release.
"During respiratory virus season, these measures improve the safety of our health care environment for all, including the most medically vulnerable who are under our care," Blum said.
Vaccination status does not change the requirement. It could remain in effect beyond Jan. 31, depending on the status of respiratory illnesses in the community.
(1) comment
There is no evidence that mandated masking reduces community or facility spread. Let the healthcare providers wear their well-fitted n95s when caring for the sickest patients and feel free to recommend and provide a decent level 2 to the immunocompromised patients in your care, but please don't go backwards, to yelling at everyone to put on their cloth or flimsy paper masks upon entering a "facility" because it's "respiratory virus season" (which magically ends in January). You haven't proved that this works on a community level.
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