Northeast Georgia Health System announced Friday morning plans to reinstate mandatory masking for all employees, staff members and volunteers in the wake of rising COVID-19, flu and RSV cases.
A press release from NGHS states the mandate will be reinstated on Tuesday, Jan. 3, for all employees, staff members and volunteers at all NGHS facilities in areas where they may encounter patients or visitors. Masks will be recommended and encouraged for patients and visitors, but not required.
Visitation guidelines will not change as part of this move.
“Safety is our top priority,” Deepak Aggarwal, MD, chief of NGHS’ Medical Staff, said. “While none of us are likely excited to wear masks each day, this change in guidelines is being made to help protect the health of our employees, patients, visitors and community. It’s also in line with guidelines provided by other large health systems across the state.”
Accounting for all NGHS hospitals, urgent care centers and physician offices, the positivity rate of all COVID tests is around 26%, flu test positivity rates are approaching 9% and RSV test positivity rates are approaching 2%.
The CDC currently lists Hall County's COVID Community Transmission as "high." NGHS is treating more than 80 people in its hospitals who have COVID as of Friday morning, which is more than double the number from a month prior. Additionally, the health system says an increasing number of employees are missing shifts due to illness, with more than 125 callouts so far this week.
“Masking helps limit the spread of these viruses and other airborne diseases,” Dr. Aggarwal said. “We also continue to encourage people to get all vaccinations and boosters, if they haven’t already. All of these measures will hopefully help us avoid unnecessary hospitalizations and keep our community healthy and strong.”
The announcement comes after NGHS removed in September the mask requirement for staff members fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Visit this link to see the latest information about COVID-19 at NGHS.
