MADISON, Wis. – Due to the expected seasonal increase and sustained high volume of respiratory illness, including a rise in RSV, influenza and COVID-19, UW Health and UnityPoint Health – Meriter are expanding masking requirements in select areas.
Effective Tuesday, Dec. 19, all Wisconsin staff, patients and visitors will be required to mask for all patient interactions in clinic settings, including waiting areas, scheduling areas and exam rooms. Masks are not required in other areas like cafeterias, lobbies, elevators and administrative spaces.
Dane County is seeing an increase of positive tests for RSV, flu and COVID-19, according to Dr. Dan Shirley, medical director of infection prevention, UW Health, and associate professor of medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.
“Health systems are already feeling the impact of this respiratory season,” he said. “Emergency department visits for respiratory illness are climbing as are COVID-19 hospitalizations.”
Providers, staff, patients and visitors should already be masking in all patient and procedure rooms and waiting areas in hospital and inpatient settings, as well as high-risk clinic locations like the UW Health Transplant Center, UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center, urgent care locations and emergency departments.
“This is an important step to take to protect our patients and prevent our providers and staff from getting sick so they can continue to care for patients across the health system,” Shirley said. “The COVID-19 pandemic prepared us to adjust our protocols based on the state of respiratory illness in our communities.”
At UnityPoint Health – Meriter, masks continue to be required for team members and visitors in patient rooms.
It is important to practice good hand hygiene, stay home if experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness and stay up to date on flu and COVID-19 vaccinations, according to Dr. Joseph McBride, medical director of infection prevention, UnityPoint Health – Meriter.
“Everyone can do their part to stop the spread of illness,” he said. “Together, we can lessen the number of potential exposures, infections, treatment, hospitalizations and poor outcomes in our patients.”
UW Health and UnityPoint Health – Meriter will continue to monitor trends and adjust as needed.
