Cayuga Health Systems, which includes Schuyler Hospital in Montour Falls, has announced a return to required masking in response to current COVID community and transmission levels in the counties the health system serves.
Starting Thursday, masking will be required for staff, visitors, and patients in Cayuga Health System healthcare facilities except for brief periods while eating and drinking. Additionally, Universal COVID testing for all patients admitted to the hospital, in addition to testing for clinical purposes, will be conducted.
The decision to reinstate mandatory masking is prompted by the emergence of a new COVID subvariant, EG.5, which is currently circulating in New York. This subvariant has led to an increase in several key indicators:
- Increased SARS-CoV-2 signal in community wastewater testing.
- A rising number of COVID cases within the community.
- A notable increase in staff members falling ill with COVID.
The number of patients hospitalized with COVID has remained stable, and CHS considers it imperative to take proactive measures to maintain this stability.
- Surgical masks will be available at the entrances to CHS facilities.
- Screening procedures and plexiglass barriers will not be implemented at this time.
