Keep Masks In Healthcare

Hello, I am a concerned patient calling to ask that you keep universal masking in healthcare.  [Add one sentence about your particular circumstances if applicable].  Even as the public health emergency ends, Covid-19 continues to wreak havoc on those who are most vulnerable.  Children under 1, immunocompromised individuals, and the elderly are all groups whose lives can be seriously endangered through a Covid infection. Moreover, while the numbers are getting better, we still see many severe complications in otherwise healthy and able adults after a Covid infection.  

Hospitals are one of the few areas where there is a concentration of vulnerable populations.  Indeed, most people cannot avoid hospitals and depend on your facilities to get healthy.  A recent study found that half of symptomatic healthcare workers infected with Covid-19 still went to work sick.  This is even more problematic given that  10.6% of hospital acquired Covid infections lead to death.  By removing mask mandates in an environment where the most vulnerable are forced to go to, you endanger countless patients and their families.  

Masks in healthcare keep us all safe – especially vulnerable people, disabled and elderly people, children, and infants. Because 40% of COVID infections can be asymptomatic, people can spread COVID without knowing it. Many patients aren’t able to effectively mask and must depend on others to keep them safe.  Furthermore, children under 2 can’t mask at all.  Hospitals should be the one place where an individual should be able to go safely.  

Doctors make an oath to do no harm.  Please consider the immense impact to the health and well being of your patients and implement mask mandates for our community’s health and safety.

Thank you,

XXX