Face mask mandates are making a comeback in 8 states amid growing concerns over what experts are calling a “quad-emic.”
Four contagious viral infections – flu, Covid, the cold-like virus RSV and norovirus — are forming to create the perfect storm of outbreaks. Around 15 million cases and 30,000 deaths have occurred so far this winter.
In response to the quad-emic outbreak, Duke Health in North Carolina and Mass General Brigham in Massachusetts both updated their mask and visitor guidelines this week.
UW Health requires face masks in select high-risk areas of the hospital during the flu season, from mid-November to mid-March.
Aurora Health Care is bringing back its mask mandate for its facilities – since the hospital system has seen a rise in respiratory illnesses.
Starting on Monday, Jan. 6, Aurora Health Care said it is temporarily requiring visitors to wear face masks in the hospital. Masks will be available at all location entrances.
Doctors in China are struggling with an unknown virus causing high rates of hospitalizations. This is occurring at the same as sicknesses caused by a virus known as human metapneumovirus or HMPV.
The symptoms of HMPV are the same as COVID: high fever, flu-like symptoms, cough, runny nose.
“While HMPV does mutate over time, with new strains emerging, it is not a virus that we consider to have pandemic potential,” says Dr Andrew Catchpole.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends wearing masks if you choose to, but multiple studies have shown surgical masks are not effective against any respiratory virus.
The best protection against a virus is to wash your hands and avoid touching your face. Don’t touch your eyes, lips and nose without washing your hands first.
Also, ask people who are actively coughing to cover their mouths.
