Johns Hopkins Medicine brings back mandatory masking at all facilities in Maryland

BALTIMORE -- Johns Hopkins Medicine will resume universal mandatory masking at its facilities, the hospital system announced on Thursday.

The policy update will take effect on Jan. 12. 

The mandatory masking is for patients, visitors and employees regardless of vaccination status at all Johns Hopkins Medicine locations throughout Maryland because of an increase in hospitalizations from COVID, the flu and RSV.

"We anticipate this requirement to be in effect on a short-term basis while influenza-like illness rates are high," Johns Hopkins said in a statement.

Johns Hopkins Medicine stated the change stems from a recommendation by the Maryland Department of Health. 

The agency shared data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that showed Maryland's statewide combined COVID-19, influenza and RSV hospitalization rate exceeded 10 hospitalizations per 100,000 residents in late December.

The hospitalization rate was an 11.4 for the week ending on Dec. 16, according to the state health department. 

 The health department site suggests facility-wide masking could be discontinued once the combined weekly respiratory virus-associated hospitalization rate sits below 10 hospitalizations per 100,000 residents for two consecutive weeks. 

Earlier this week, LifeBridge Health and the University of Maryland Medical System 
reinstated masking at its medical facilities.

Mercy Medical Center and MedStar confirm their health facilities are still "strongly encouraging" the use of masks.