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SYCAMORE – Mask wearing is once again being recommended and changes to visitation protocol have been implemented at OSF Healthcare facilities due to “widespread respiratory illnesses” in Illinois, company officials confirmed on Thursday with Shaw Local News Network.
Paul Arco, media relations coordinator for OSF Healthcare, wrote that changes to OSF Healthcare mask policy, which previously didn’t recommend mask wearing for individuals who weren’t known to be sick, were driven by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.
“The decision to recommend masking was made by our leadership based on the CDC’s tracking of respiratory illness in our communities,” Arco wrote.
The change to recommend patients and visitors at OSF Healthcare facilities was implemented on Dec. 31, according to a company statement provided by Arco.
Colleen Reynolds with OSF Healthcare wrote that the mask wearing “is a recommendation, not a mandate.”
Not all healthcare facilities in northern Illinois currently recommend universal mask wearing, either.
Northwestern Medicine, which operates Valley West and Kishwaukee hospitals in DeKalb County, has not recently made changes to its mask wearing policy. Megan McCann with Northwestern Medicine wrote that there are still some instances patients and visitors could be asked to wear a mask, however.
“We offer masks at every entrance to our facilities and do require masks in certain clinical areas,” McCann wrote. “For patients who have symptoms of respiratory virus [and] in a patients room, if requested or if staff requires it.”
Overall respiratory virus activity levels in the U.S. were high entering the new year, according to CDC data. Illinois currently has moderate respiratory illness levels, according to the CDC.
That data and company observations is what lead to OSF’s new mask recommendation and was directly referenced in the policy statement.
“Due to widespread respiratory illnesses in our communities, including COVID-19, influenza and RSV, OSF HealthCare recommends masks to be worn by patients and visitors,” Arco wrote.
Masking isn’t the only change of OSF facility protocols. Additionally, the number of adults visitors will capped.
“To ensure a safe and comfortable environment for everyone, we are temporarily asking for a limit of two adult visitors [age 18+] per patient at a time,” Arco wrote. “Exceptions will be made for special circumstances such as end-of-life situations.”