Masks Required At Area Hospitals

They’re back. In an effort to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, Brown University Health is requiring visitors and staff members at some major Rhode Island hospitals, including Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children’s Hospital, to wear masks. (Please read the post before commenting.) From the ProJo:

Respiratory viruses include the flu, COVID-19 and RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus. Information on the state Department of Health’s website indicates that flu activity has increased over the last three weeks, while COVID-19 has decreased and RSV has been stable.

According to the Rhode Island Department of Health, the state has had 308 hospitalizations for the flu since Sept. 29. Since Oct. 1, there have been 467 hospitalizations for COVID-19, according to the health department.

Those are hospitalizations. There are many more sick at home if my social media is any measure.

The Brown University Health online platform merely links to the media coverage. One hospital director spoke with The Public’s Radio recently:

As a result of the increase in winter illnesses, Brown University Health has instituted masking requirements in its overburdened hospitals. Dan Shanin, the director of the Anderson Emergency Medical Center at Rhode Island Hospital, is asking potential patients to consider whether they really need to visit the emergency room for their illnesses.

“Hospital occupancy is up, [Emergency Department] arrivals are up,” he said. “As a result, we are seeing an increase in wait time throughout our system and throughout our state.”

Of course if we had a functioning health care system, people would not be going to emergency rooms for basic health care problems.

At any rate, wear your masks and please dispose of them properly.

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In related news: The RI DEM now reports that bird flu has infected a noncommercial farm flock in South County. They “humanely euthanized a flock of about 40 birds to minimize their suffering from the infection and prevent the spread of the disease to other birds.” I’m sure the federal government will be getting right on top of this.