Due to a surge in COVID-19 infections within its facilities, the University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) has reinstated mandatory mask usage for all patients, visitors, and employees.
According to Carly Haag, MS, RN, the Associate Chief Nursing Officer at CVPH, there has been a marked increase in COVID admissions, emergency visits, and staff infections within the past 10 days. The figures are akin to the peak levels of the pandemic, with nearly 50 employees off work due to COVID-19. Daily COVID inpatient numbers have reached up to 20. Despite earlier relaxation of COVID-19 measures, hospital authorities decided to reinstate mask mandate due to this surge and a localized outbreak of the virus within the hospital.
Initially, during the pandemic’s onset in March 2020, these restrictions were put in place; yet these were relaxed in June 2021. The latest COVID-related death at CVPH was recorded on September 23rd, and currently, the masking policy exclusively applies to CVPH. To mitigate the spread, the hospital strongly urges any symptomatic individuals to remain at home, use COVID-19 testing resources and maintain proper mask usage. A team at CVPH is closely monitoring the situation, including COVID spikes outside the Plattsburgh region.
Before making the decision, CVPH consulted with the UVM Health Network Infectious Disease and internal partners to have a comprehensive professional perspective. However, the timeline for reducing these enhanced security measures has yet to be defined. In the meantime, the hospital expresses gratitude towards its community of staff, providers, patients, families, and visitors for their flexibility and support during this time.
Source: https://news.yahoo.com/cvph-reinstates-universal-masking-113500628.html