The Massachusetts Coalition for Health Equity is urging hospitals and healthcare providers to reintroduce universal mask mandates during the upcoming holiday season in order to protect against COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses. The coalition, which was established during the pandemic with the goal of protecting individuals who are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, hosted a virtual press conference on Monday to urge health systems to reconsider their masking policies.
Many hospitals had lifted their mask mandates after the public health emergency ended in May. However, with the rise of new variants of the virus, there is a growing concern about the safety of patients and staff in healthcare settings. The coalition believes that reinstating mask mandates will help prevent the spread of illness and keep everyone safe.
The Boston Business Journal has more information on this story.