Masking requirements dropped from some hospitals
When the World Health Organization, or WHO, declared an end to the global emergency status for COVID-19 on Friday, a number of Butler County-based health care facilities had already dropped their mask mandates.
Allegheny Health Network, UPMC hospitals and VA Butler Healthcare have all announced an end to mandatory mask wearing in their facilities, while Butler Health System has not changed its mask policy.
“Our current policies require staff to mask with all patient interactions and recommends masking by patients and visitors,” Dr. John Love, medical director, BHS infectious disease, said Friday. “Any staff, patient, or visitor exhibiting any respiratory symptoms must wear a mask at all times.”
This policy applies to Butler Memorial Hospital, Clarion Hospital, Frick Hospital, Latrobe Hospital, Westmoreland Hospital, and all associated outpatient sites.
“Our infection control teams constantly review all available data in order to make decisions as information evolves,” Love said.
Paul Hanlon, senior director of quality, patient safety and compliance for UPMC Passavant, said the decision to discontinue facial coverings in a majority of areas in the health system’s facilities was based on the “prevalence of COVID-19 in the community” and “a data perspective, as far as the changing state of the pandemic itself.”
The decision was effective Monday.
There are a few places in the UPMC system where masks still are required, but according to Hanlon, they are not at either of the Passavant campuses.
The COVID-19 pandemic was called an international health emergency by WHO in March 2020 when COVID-19 had spread to every continent except Antarctica.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared a pandemic March 11, 2020, and shutdowns were instituted days later.
In the three years since, COVID-19 cases have been in flux. When comparing 2023 and 2020 data, hospitalizations for the disease have notably decreased at Butler Memorial Hospital.
As COVID-19 began to spread, the Eagle reported on May 5, 2020, eight patients in Butler Memorial Hospital with COVID-19, with one in the ICU.
In the edition published May 2, 2021, eight patients were reported hospitalized, with four receiving intensive care.
No hospitalizations were recorded in data published in May 2022 and 2023.
Vaccines against COVID-19 were developed and released in spring of 2021, decreasing hospitalizations and deaths for older adults, the CDC said.
In terms of Butler County deaths caused by COVID-19, the Eagle reported six total in early May 2020.
There were no new Butler County deaths recorded May 2, 2022, and one was recorded in Friday’s edition.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ federal Public Health Emergency for COVID-19 is set to expire at the end of the day on Thursday.
The end of the public health emergency means several emergency declarations will expire, including some waivers and flexibilities for easier access to health care.
Allegheny Health Network ended its mask requirement at its hospitals, outpatient clinics and all other patient-facing facilities on April 20. Masks are still available at AHN hospitals and outpatient clinics for those who choose to wear one, according to a recent news release from the network.
“Throughout this pandemic, AHN has made every effort to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our region while also keeping our patients, visitors and staff members as safe as possible,” Dr. Brian Parker, AHN chief quality and learning officer, said. “Now that we have reached more manageable levels of COVID-19 cases, and with the impending expiration of the Public Health Emergency, we are pleased to be able to lift the mask mandate at our facilities as a next step toward a return to normal operations.”
A statement from VA Butler Healthcare said masking has been optional for all veterans, visitors and staff since April 14, and the decision is based on CDC data.
“Masking is still required for the Community Living Center as it is considered a high-risk area,” the statement said. “The facility completes a weekly assessment of community transmission rates to ensure appropriate safety protocols are in place.”
Additionally, the VA Butler Healthcare offers the COVID-19 vaccine and updated booster shots to all veterans, their spouses and caregivers at no cost on a walk-in basis from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Abie Abraham VA Health Care Center.
UPMC ended its mask mandate Monday at its Passavant campuses.
