Hospitals drop mask mandates as COVID-19 cases wane

With a caveat that the directive could change, Franciscan Alliance on Friday relaxed its mandatory masking policy at its health facilities in Northwest Indiana.

All Indiana facilities will be mask optional effective Monday, according to a release, which added if a COVID-19 resurgence calls for a return to masking, Franciscan may change these protocols.

Beginning Monday masking will be optional for visitors, patients and staff, with some exceptions, the release said. Masking will be required where it is part of the routine infection-control process.

Staff caring for COVID-positive and COVID-suspected patients will be required to wear N95 masks, as will those performing high-risk procedures related to the COVID virus, the release said.

Patients may request Franciscan staff members wear a mask during their health care encounters, the release said.

Franciscan, the release said, is taking these steps in accordance with the guidance of local, state and federal public health officials as well as the expertise of its own vice presidents of medical affairs for each location.

Franciscan Alliance isn’t the only health care conglomerate reconfiguring its masking policy. Northwest Health expects to roll out its plan in the coming weeks, spokesperson Kelly Credit said Friday.

“Northwest Health is currently requiring masking in all patient care areas and public spaces,” Credit told the Post-Tribune in an email Friday. “Our infection prevention leaders and physicians continuously monitor community levels of the virus.

“With community case counts dropping, we are currently updating policies and developing communication plans in preparation to transition back to a mask-optional environment. Once implemented, masks will only be required for staff and visitors in close proximity to patients with infectious conditions.

“This new policy will take effect in April.”

Representatives from Community Health Care and Methodists Hospitals didn’t return requests for comment by deadline.

In Lake County, 2,010 have died, while 627 deaths have been blamed on COVID-19 in Porter County, according to the New York Times.

MICHAEL GARD/POST-TRIBUNE Student writings and drawings about COVID-19, as well as signage and a mask, await placement inside a time capsule at Clark Middle School in St. John on May 14, 2021.