By Elliot Brandt
BUFFALO — Starting Monday, nurses, doctors and other staff at Catholic Health’s hospitals will have to wear masks in patient-care areas, whether or not they have had a flu shot, as an unusually early flu season picks up speed across Western New York.
The policy takes effect Nov. 16 at all Catholic Health and Trinity Medical facilities, the system said in a release Thursday. All employees, providers, contracted staff, students and volunteers must wear a surgical or approved medical-grade mask in patient-care and clinical areas. Visitors will be encouraged, but not required, to mask in patient rooms, emergency departments, inpatient units, infusion centers and other places where patients receive care.
“We’re seeing influenza and other respiratory illnesses increase through our community, and masking is a simple step we can take to help reduce the risk of transmission in our facilities,” said Dr. Jimmy Chung, Catholic Health’s interim chief physician executive. The rule will stay in place through flu season and be reviewed by the system’s infection prevention and clinical leaders, the release said.
The numbers
Flu cases are climbing fast. In Erie County, 261 laboratory-confirmed flu cases were reported in the week ending Oct. 31, a 158% increase from the week before, according to the county Health Department’s weekly respiratory surveillance report. All but six were influenza A. No flu-related pediatric deaths had been reported in the county this season.
Statewide, 7,696 laboratory-confirmed cases were reported that week, up 77%, and 668 patients were hospitalized with flu, up 105%, the report said, citing the state Health Department. By comparison, the state counted 2,763 COVID-19 cases and 648 RSV cases that week.
Seniors accounted for 56% of those hospitalized, and Western New York’s eight counties recorded several hundred new cases and 40 hospitalizations in the most recent reporting week, WKBW reported.
State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald has declared flu prevalent statewide after activity began roughly six weeks earlier than usual, the station reported. “It’s generally people 65 and older,” Dr. McDonald said. “It’s also people who are very young, little ones under 4, you know, people who are pregnant are at high risk of ending up in the hospital as well.”
Under the state’s flu prevention regulation, a prevalence declaration requires health care and residential facility workers who have not been vaccinated against flu to wear a mask in areas where patients or residents are typically present. Catholic Health’s rule goes further by covering vaccinated staff too.
Other hospitals are watching
The region’s other big systems have not gone as far. Kaleida Health, which runs Buffalo General Medical Center, Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital and other hospitals in the region, is not requiring masks for now, though visitors are encouraged to wear them and masks are available at most entrances, WKBW reported.
“For right now, we’re sitting tight,” said Dr. John Sellick of Kaleida, adding that hospital officials are watching the numbers and discussing more precautions if cases keep rising.
Erie County Medical Center requires unvaccinated staff to wear a surgical mask every flu season. “We follow NYS Department of Health guidance regarding influenza masking within our healthcare facilities and advise all visitors to wear a mask while they are here,” an ECMC spokesperson said in a statement to the station. “In addition, we also advise anyone experiencing flu-like symptoms to avoid visiting anyone who has been admitted to the hospital.”
Dr. Thomas Cumbo, an infectious disease physician at Catholic Health’s Kenmore Mercy Hospital, said the hospital rule should not be confused with pandemic-era mandates. “This is very different than, for example, masking in public the way we did with COVID,” he said. “This is directly impacting patients in the hospital.” He told WKBW he expects local cases to rise significantly in the coming weeks.
What families can do
Doctors said a flu shot is still the best protection and that it takes about two weeks to build full immunity, so getting vaccinated now would cover Thanksgiving gatherings. Last season, flu in New York peaked around Christmas, WKBW reported.
They also asked people who are sick to stay away from hospital patients. “If you’re sick, don’t come to visit grandma,” Dr. Sellick said. “Grandma’s already sick enough to be in the hospital. Don’t bring whatever you have.”
The Erie County Department of Health publishes its respiratory report each week during the season, from October through May. Its reports for November will show whether the late-October jump continued.
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