HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) — Amid a surge in respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19 and RSV, area hospitals and health care systems are strongly recommending that people wear masks inside hospitals, medical facilities and physician practices.
They said the recommendation would continue “as long [as] reports of the flu, COVID-19 and RSV remain at elevated levels.”
The recommendation, they said in a joint statement, goes for all patients and visitors, including people seeking outpatient services. It said even people who have received their annual flu shot and are up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines are strongly encouraged to wear masks. It said masks and hand sanitizer are available at facility entrances for public use.
Bon Secours, Chesapeake Regional Healthcare, Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters, Eastern Virginia Medical School Medical Group, Riverside Health System and Sentara Health all signed on to the statement.
They noted that while vaccinations are the best prevention available, they’re not 100% effective, and wearing a mask is an added layer of protection from respiratory illnesses.
They also recommended people continue to wash hands frequently, stay home when sick, get vaccinated and coughing into sleeves or tissues.
They ask those with respiratory illness-like symptoms to stay home and not make visits to patients at hospitals. Respiratory illness symptoms include cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches, chills and sometimes, diarrhea.
“As health care providers, our collective goal is to protect the community from sickness and disease,” according to the statement. “Data suggests an infected person can spread a respiratory virus 24 hours before showing any signs or symptoms. This community-wide recommendation helps protect our patients, visitors and staff from exposure to the flu, COVID-19 and RSV, even before symptoms are noticeable.”
