There are reports circulating that colleges, hospitals, and some officials have started to re-implement COVID-19 mask mandates, although hospitalizations still remain relatively low.
Atlanta’s Morris Brown College announced on social media this week that it is re-implementing its mask mandate over what it said was an increase in positive COVID-19 cases among students at the Atlanta University Center. The college also said it would mandate isolation and quarantine regimens under Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines as well as contact tracing.
“All students and employees are required to wear face masks (staff may remove in their offices while alone),” the announcement said.
The college also told students to maintain “physical distancing” and said there will be no large student gatherings or parties for the next two weeks. It will also mandate students and employees to get their temperatures checked when they arrive at the campus.
Morris Brown President Kevin James told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the college received no reports of COVID-19 cases on its own campus and described the steps as “precautionary measures.” The Atlanta University Center has several black colleges, including Morehouse and Spelman Colleges and Clark Atlanta University.
Hundreds of miles to the north, Auburn Community Hospital in Upstate New York re-implemented its mask mandate, coming about a month after the policy was officially ended, according to local reports. The hospital said that all staff, visitors, and patients have to wear masks in clinical areas.
In the Syracuse area, Upstate Medical’s two hospitals, University and Community General, also reimposed masking last week after reporting what it said was an increase in COVID-19 cases. COVID-19 testing will also be mandated for patients being admitted to hospitals.
“Effective immediately, mandatory masking is required by all staff, visitors, and patients in clinical areas of Upstate University Hospital, Upstate Community Hospital, and ambulatory clinical spaces,” the company said. “Clinical areas are defined as any location patients gather, wait, transport through, or receive care. Masking is strongly recommended in all non-clinical areas.”
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