Covid Cases Are Steadily Decreasing, Is it Too Soon to Get Rid of the Mask?
By Zayna Holton
April 9, 2022
Nearly three years after the first case of Covid being discovered in the United States, masks are becoming less mandated and more optional. Starting March 9th of 2022, masks will now be optional in public areas in Philadelphia, including restaurants and schools.
During the beginning of the pandemic, many health care workers, including LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) Tonya Ellison of the nursing facility, Care Pavilion Rehab and Health Care, were concerned about the effects of the newly discovered virus COVID-19.
“Anything new is always scary to everyone, especially with people and how people were just dying. Loads of people so it was a scary thing.” Ellison said.
Late December, there was a huge incline of Covid cases causing many nursing facilities to be extra cautious and play it safe with additional protective gear, however some of the nurses do not agree with CDC guidelines, especially with the mask mandate being lifted.
“Um, yeah, we're required to wear masks every day, along with regular PPE, personal protective equipment. Um, do I think it is necessary? No." Ellison said, "But as far as CDC guidelines and Jayco OSHA guidelines say that it's mandatory, do I think it is overkill? Yes. As we're getting borderline, hopefully over the pandemic, I don't think that it should be necessary in a healthcare facility.”
Many nurses feel with universal standard precautions, frequent hand washing should be enough instead of wearing masks.
“I feel as though we're waiting. We're almost two years into it. Me, personally, I feel that universal standard precautions should be enough such as hand washing, it could never be too much hand washing, I don't feel as though we should have the mask up.” Ellison said.
Although there are few cases in Care Pavilion, a red zone floor is provided to isolate Covid residents from the otherwise COVID free patients. Contrary to popular belief, the residents are not receiving the virus from the facility.
“And so far, quarantine days are over, usually 10 days after the first initial onset, but if vaccinated about five to seven, just to kind of isolate the cases. And we are a facility that receives COVID patients from hospitals. So it's not necessarily that they're getting it in our facility.” Ellison added.
While a dramatic surge in cases is possible, COVID won’t be as severe and deadly especially for people who are vaccinated.
“It's not as it was when it first began when people were dying left and right now we have everybody being vaccinated, and even the vaccinated people are coming down with COVID. But it's not as severe as the unvaccinated people.” Ellison commented.
“It's not as it was when it first began when people were dying left and right now we have everybody being vaccinated, and even the vaccinated people are coming down with COVID. But it's not as severe as the unvaccinated people.” Stated Ellison.