Michigan: Several Health System Set to Make Masks Optional as COVID Inpatients Are Showing a Decline
In recent weeks, more health systems across the United States have been making masks optional for visitors and staff as the number of COVID-19 inpatients continues to decline. This move is a reflection of the improved vaccination rates and the declining number of cases across the country. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases in the United States has fallen to less than 60,000 cases per day. This is a significant improvement from the peak of the pandemic in January when there were over 250,000 new cases per day. With the decline in COVID-19 cases, more health systems have relaxed their mask-wearing policies. For example, in Texas, the Methodist Health System recently announced that it would no longer require masks for fully vaccinated individuals. The system has also lifted other restrictions such as limiting visitors and allowing patients to have more than one visitor at a time. More health systems are mak...