LINCOLN- Beginning on April 3rd, several of the state's largest hospital systems will allow masks to be optional within most areas of their hospitals and clinics. The announcement came from Boys Town National Research Hospital, Bryan Health, CHI Health, Children’s Hospital & Medical Center, Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals, Methodist Health System and Nebraska Medicine. CHI had already lifted mask restrictions on March 20th.

The hospitals stressed that the virus is still circulating and that they are still treating patients on a daily basis. But they noted that health care providers know more about the illness and that vaccines are available that are “extremely safe and effective in preventing serious disease and death.” Oral medications also are available to help prevent the disease from progressing.

“We are better suited to treat patients with COVID-19 and they are consuming less intensive care resources,” they wrote. “We are also experiencing less employee absenteeism due to COVID-19 infection.” Staff at the hospitals will still mask if it is requested by the patient. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is expected to end the public health emergency for COVID-19 on May 11.

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