A mask requirement has returned to a unit of a Boston hospital affected by a cluster of COVID-19 cases.
The masking mandate inside hospitals in Massachusetts was, by and large, lifted in May, and face coverings became optional.
But now, there's been a cluster of COVID-19 cases at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.
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"It's something that could have been completely prevented," said Harvard Medical School instructor Dr. Lara Jirmanus. "It's a shame and a pity."
A hospital spokesperson says the facility detected a cluster of COVID cases among staff and patients, isolated those patients, and reinstated universal masking in the affected unit.
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As of Monday night, Beth Israel had not said how many people were diagnosed with COVID. Tuesday, hospital officials said there were under 20 cases.
The Department of Public Health further clarified Wednesday that 12 staff members and seven patients were infected, with no critical illness reported and none being transferred to intensive care.
The hospital still has not said what unit or units were impacted.
Most Massachusetts hospitals lifted their mask requirements when the COVID emergency came to an end.
"Some people said, 'Well, we're not totally sure what's going to happen,'" said Jirmanus. "Well, I think we all know what was going to happen. When you take away masks in health care, you have outbreaks."
Jirmanus has been one of the leading voices urging health care facilities to keep masking mandatory.
She says Beth Israel needs to be more forthcoming about the situation.
"The information about outbreaks should be public," she said. "It should be made publicly available. We track other infections. We should be tracking hospital-acquired COVID, as well."
NBC10 Boston asked Tufts Medical Center, Brigham and Women's, Massachusetts General Hospital, and UMass Memorial Medical Center if they will consider reinstating any mask mandates, but they did not respond to requests for comment.
