NYC's Public Hospitals Continue Mask Requirements

by Mindy Cohn

Despite the mask mandate for healthcare facilities being lifted as of Sunday, New York City's public hospital system will continue mask requirements.

"Currently, we intend to maintain our mask policy to protect our patients and our staff, in keeping with State and CDC guidance," a spokesperson from NYC Health + Hospitals shared in a statement.

This is despite the fact that New York City has seen a decline in transmission rates of COVID over the past month, which led to the New York State Department of Health's announcement that it was dropping the mask mandate. 

Healthcare facilities were advised that they would be able to make their own mask policies which presently vary by location.

"New York's hospitals have been prepared for the mandate to expire and will continue to use their vast clinical expertise and experience to make safe masking decisions for their patients, workers, and visitors," Brian Conway, Greater New York Hospital Association spokesperson, shared in a statement. "They'll make those decisions according to the CDC guidelines. New York's mandate was based on and will remain hypervigilant for spikes in transmissible infections."

Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn announced it would lift the mask requirement for staff in non-patient care areas only.

"We are always reviewing the latest scientific evidence and governmental guidelines to keep our policy current and will communicate any changes when a determination is made in the next few days," NewYork-Presbyterian stated.

Other facilities have yet to make a final decision.