© Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
(New York, NY) – They’re baaaacccck. After COVID, many of us have “mask fatigue”. We got tired of wearing the medical mask over our nose and mouth. It made conversation difficult! Now, health experts are recommending you start wearing them again.
There’s a spike in flu cases in the tri-state area, triggering several hospitals to reinstate mask mandates. The New York State Department of Health has labeled the flu “prevalent,” confirming more than 14-thousand cases the week ending November 29th, an 80-percent spike from the week prior.
Hospitalizations are up 93-percent. Meanwhile, New Jersey reported more than two-thousand cases through the end of November, close to four times the number the same time last year. And numbers are likely up even more since not everyone is getting tested. Facilities like Hackensack Meridian Health and RWJBarnabas Health are asking visitors to mask up.
The holiday season only adds to the spread of the flu. Make sure to wash your hands frequently, sanitize door knobs, handles, remote controls and phones, as well as any frequently touched surface or item. Put that mask on and get immunized.
