Starting January 5, Cooper University Health Care facilities will enforce a mandatory mask policy for visitors and staff in patient rooms and exam rooms. The decision comes in response to the growing number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Camden, Burlington, and Gloucester counties, according to a spokesperson for Cooper.
Cooper University Hospital’s website outlines the mask requirement for all visitors, and patients and visitors are obligated to wear masks at all outpatient offices and MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper locations within the system.
The move aligns with efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health and safety of patients, visitors, and staff. Other healthcare providers, such as Main Line Health, have also implemented similar mask mandates in response to the surge in sickness.
The Philadelphia Health Department acknowledged an increase in respiratory virus activity, including COVID-19, flu, and RSV, since the beginning of November. Despite the heightened activity, the department clarified that it does not currently plan to issue a mask mandate.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), flu activity is high in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, with elevated and increasing COVID-19 levels in some regions. Additionally, RSV levels remain high in many parts of the country. The collective efforts to encourage mask-wearing aim to mitigate the impact of these respiratory viruses on public health.
