I urge the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to recommend  that we keep masks in healthcare in the US.  While no longer a global emergency, we are still in a covid pandemic. The United States is experiencing a 10.3% increase in covid hospitalizations as of 7/25/23. Nationally, over 1 million Americans have died of covid. Many more struggle with the effects of long covid. Anyone can experience serious health issues from covid. But it's not just covid. Annually, 30,000-60,000 Americans die from influenza. These deaths can largely be prevented by mask-wearing. Accessing healthcare shouldn't mean putting our health at risk. Masks minimize that risk. Keeping masks in healthcare will reduce covid and other viral infections; it will save lives.

Masking has long been an effective simple way to reduce the risk of contracting and spreading airborne infections like covid. Both healthcare facilities as a whole and their individual staff, have a professional responsibility and a moral obligation to practice infection control. They must do their part in keeping their patients safe from covid and other viruses. Because viruses including covid spread even before an infected person has symptoms, and because immunity quickly wanes, masking is essential to keep medical staff and their patients safe. 

Currently, the CDC will recommend masking only when hospitals are overwhelmed. We have a responsibility to take action before that happens, not just after. Healthcare settings have a duty to not only be mindful of the effect of illness on the healthcare system but also to make the health of individual patients top priority.  Keeping masks in healthcare will reduce viral transmission and potential deaths from covid and other airborne viruses.

If the CDC and healthcare facilities would send the message that masking is good for the individual and for those around us we would all be in a safer place with covid and other viruses. Please act now to keep masks in healthcare so that medical professionals as well as medical facilities and their patients can stay safe from airborne viruses and prevent spreading them to others. Your leadership is urgently needed.