Brown University Health has announced a mask mandate requiring staff, patients, and visitors to wear either Level 2 or N95 surgical masks due to “very high” levels of respiratory illness. The move comes as the state sees approximately 900 flu hospitalizations and seven flu-related deaths since September.
The Rhode Island Department of Health reported a decline in COVID-19 and RSV activity over the past three weeks, but flu activity has increased to 5.1% of emergency room visits in R.I. This season’s flu cases are considered “high severity” for all age groups across the country.
Brown Health’s decision was influenced by rising community respiratory virus rates, hospital admissions due to respiratory viral infections, and wastewater COVID levels. Professor Leonard Mermel, medical director of Brown Health’s Department of Epidemiology and Infection Control, emphasized the importance of disease prevention measures like masking and vaccination among young people.
The mask mandate aims to reduce transmission and protect vulnerable groups, such as immunocompromised individuals. However, William Goedel PhD notes that the discourse around health mandates can be polarized, making it challenging to implement public health policy. Despite this, Mermel has not observed notable pushback against Brown Health’s mask mandate.
Source: https://www.browndailyherald.com/article/2025/02/amid-rising-flu-cases-ri-hospitals-implement-mask-mandates