Syracuse hospitals to continue requiring masks for now

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Upstate University Hospital, St. Joseph’s Health, and Crouse Health all tell CNYBJ that they will continue to require masks to be worn in their facilities despite the state’s new guidance eliminating the mask mandate for health-care facilities that took effect on Sunday.

Dr. James McDonald, acting New York State Health Commissioner, on Friday said the state’s health-care facilities could eliminate masks starting Sunday, but said it’s up to the individual facilities to develop their own policies. The new state guidance is in accordance with the recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In a statement forwarded to CNYBJ, Dr. Philip Falcone, chief medical officer at St. Joseph’s Health, said the state and federal mask-mandate guidance “focuses on local transmission levels.”

“As transmission levels in the Syracuse area continue to remain high, employees, patients and visitors entering St. Joseph’s Health facilities are still required to wear masks, in accordance with CDC recommendations and Trinity Health policies,” Falcone said. “As a healthcare organization, we care for the most vulnerable of our communities and COVID and Influenza remain a risk. The safety of our colleagues and patients remains our top priority.”

Upstate Medical University told CNYBJ, “At Upstate, universal masking will continue to be required in our hospitals and outpatient areas. This includes masking for all staff, students, volunteers, and visitors. Upstate’s Infection Prevention team monitors local/regional Covid transmission data and hospital admission data for our area daily and will use this information to guide future decisions on masking.”

Crouse Hospital will also continue requiring masks for now, Bob Allen, VP of communications & government affairs, tells CNYBJ in an email message. It was announced the April 2022 that Upstate Medical University is in the process of acquiring Crouse Health.