COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths continue to rise week after week, according to the CDC's most recent data. That trend has prompted several hospitals across the country to reinstate mask policies to prevent further spread of respiratory infections.
Here are the hospitals and health systems that have already done so:
Note that this list is not exhaustive and will be updated as new information becomes available.
- Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins Medicine reinstated its masking policy for all Maryland locations as of Jan. 12.
- Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.J., is once again requiring masks, Valley News reported Jan. 11.
- Beebe Healthcare in Lewis, Del., brought back its mask policy for the first time since April as of Jan. 11, Delaware Online reported.
- Ascension St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, Ill., and Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, Ill., have both brought back mask policies, WJOL radio reported Jan. 11.
- Two Maryland-based systems, Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin and TidalHealth in Salisbury, have reinstated mask policies, the OC Today reported Jan. 11.
- The University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington began requiring masks once again as of Jan. 11, WAMC public radio reported.
- Three major health systems in Philadelphia are now requiring masks at facilities including: Jefferson Health, Penn Medicine and Temple Health, Metro Philadelphia reported Jan. 10.
- Owensboro (Ky.) Health has reinstated its mask requirements across eight of nine locations, as of Nov. 28. The system notes it will continue to review and reassess the policy on a weekly basis.
- UC Health in Cincinnati is once again requiring masks for employees, WLWT reported Nov. 17.
- Multiple hospitals and systems across nine California counties have been affected by local mask mandates that began Nov. 1, according to KQED.
- Sonoma (Calif.) Valley Hospital will require masks for all patients, visitors and staff as of Oct. 30.
- Cleveland Clinic is recommending masking but not requiring them as of Oct. 10, according to Spectrum News. The system made note that it would likely do so once fall virus season began on its website over the summer. Cleveland Clinic notes that this policy does not apply to its Florida locations.
- Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Health in West Orange, N.J., brought back its mask policy for all facilities as of Oct. 2.
- Tower Health in West Reading, Pa., is requiring masks at its facilities as of Oct. 2, Lehigh Valley Business reported.
- Nuvance Health in Danbury, Conn., issued a mask advisory via email Oct. 1 encouraging masking for patients, employees and visitors, Mid-Hudson News reported.
- Champlain Valley Physician's Hospital in Plattsburgh, N.Y., has reinstated its mask policy for employees, visitors and patients, the Press-Republican reported Sept. 26.
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital is requiring all employees to wear masks effective Sept. 25, ABC affiliate WCPO reported The health system is strongly recommending patients and visitors also wear masks, though it's not required.
- Ely (Minn.) -Bloomenson Community Hospital announced via a Facebook post Sept. 21 that it would bring back a mandatory masking policy for the next 14 days.
- Cambridge (Mass.) Health Alliance brought back its mask policy for patients, visitors and staff as of Sept. 18.
- Piedmont Fayette Hospital in Fayetteville, Ga., brought its mask policy back for staff only, as of Sept. 18, according to its website and a letter to the editor of Fayette County News.
- Baystate Health in Springfield, Mass., brought back its mask policy Sept. 15, Western Mass News reported.
- University of Chicago Medicine Center is requiring staff to wear masks when in direct contact with patients, CBS 2 News reported Sept. 15.
- Mount Nittany Health in State College, Pa., is once again requiring masks at its facilities, statecollege.com reported Sept. 14.
- Cape Regional Medical Center in Middle Township, N. J., has brought back its mask policy, nj.com reported Sept.14.
- Augusta Health in Fishersville, Va., published a notice Sept. 12 stating that masking in vulnerable hospital areas like the emergency department and obstetric care departments is now required.
- St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center in Syracuse, N.Y. brought back its mask policy only for its emergency department setting, Syracuse.com reported Sept. 1.
- Samaritan Health in Watertown, N.Y., will once again require masks for staff, visitors and patients acorss all facilities beginning Aug. 31.
- Nuvance Health in Danbury, Conn. reinstated its mask policy for several locations across the state, according to an Aug. 29 report from Connecticut News 12.
- Oswego (N.Y.) Hospital has issued a 14-day mask policy for all clinical and patient settings due to rising COVID-19 cases. The policy went into effect Aug. 25 and will be reevaluated after 14 days.
- City of Hope in Duarte, Calif., has kept its mask policy intact, while others have loosened theirs, Cancer Therapy Advisor reported Aug. 25.
- UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, Mass., reinstated a mask mandate for staff Aug. 24, according to CBS News Boston. The policy was reintroduced amid a "dramatic increase" in the number of COVID-19 positive employees over the past few weeks. If the trend continues, the hospital said it will require masks for anyone who enters the building. The policy will be revisited in four weeks.
- United Health Services in upstate New York brought back mask policies at several locations including — UHS Wilson Medical Center, UHS Binghamton General Hospital, UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital and UHS Delaware Valley Hospital — as of Aug. 23.
- Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center reinstated its mask policy Aug. 22.
- Auburn (N.Y.) Community Hospital has restored its mask mandate Aug. 18, ABC affiliate WSYR reported.
- Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse, N.Y., reinstated a mask mandate Aug. 1.