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By Jasmine Laws
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As various illnesses have been surging nationwide, a number of states have brought in mask mandates to try to reduce the rate of transmission.
Among vulnerable populations, many of the illnesses that have been on the rise in recent weeks can pose risks of severe illnesses, hospitalizations and in some cases, death, meaning measures that reduce transmission are becoming increasingly important.
Why It Matters
Oregon's health authority recently said the state had experienced a record number of cases of whooping cough, also known as pertussis, and outbreaks of the illnesses are also happening in many other states.
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Cases of the winter vomiting virus, known as norovirus, have also been soaring ahead of schedule this year, with concern raised over whether 2025 will also have high numbers of cases, after 2024 hit the highest levels since 2012.
COVID-19 cases have also been increasing ahead of Christmas, with 17 states seeing either "growing" or "likely growing" numbers of cases, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data.
While mask mandates can be effective in reducing the spread of an illness, subject to various conditions including the type of mask used and how they fit, a recent study has sparked conversation on whether improving the quality of air in enclosed spaces could be an important measure in reducing the spread of respiratory illness.
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What To Know
The states that currently have mask mandates in place include New Jersey, New York and California, although not all of these were issued by the state health departments.
In New Jersey, there have been a number of health providers issuing mandates, rather than the New Jersey state health department.
The health care provider RWJBarnabas Health implemented a mask mandate at all it's locations, starting from December 1, which applied to physicians, staff, patients and visitors.
Hackensack Meridian Health, another New Jersey health provider, issued a similar mandate, requiring all patients, team members and visitors to wear a mask at any of its facilities from December 1.
Certain counties in California, including Sonoma County, have also issued mask mandates, although the county issued its mandate earlier, starting it from November 1.
New York had a mask mandate brought in at the state level. The New York State Department of Health issued its mandate on December 2, although it is not applicable to all residents in the state.
The department has requested that staff at health care facilities and agencies who have not received this year's flu vaccine wear masks in all areas where patients and residents may be present.
The mandate comes as the state reported that there has been a surge of cases (up by 114 percent compared to the previous week), as well as hospitalizations (up by 99 percent compared to the previous week), of influenza.
What People Are Saying
Dr. Donald Milton, a professor of environmental health at the University of Maryland, told Newsweek: "Masks, especially when worn by people who have an infection as well as those who don't, work well. They suppress transmission. The tighter fitting the better."
He said: "Whether mandates work depends on whether people agree to follow them. Masks pose communication barriers especially for people with hearing loss. Social acceptance of masks varies a lot. In Japan and South Korea, they are widely accepted. The same is true in some parts of the U.S., but others reject them as not part of the culture."
He added: "We need to get beyond depending on masks and changes in behavior (like distancing or closing schools and bars). Clean, sanitary indoor air just like clean sanitary water is key to protecting our health."
What Happens Next
It is likely that illnesses such as norovirus, COVID-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and others will continue to soar over the winter months, and so other states, counties and hospitals may look to bring in mask mandates.
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