"UMass Memorial Health Implements Staff Mask Mandate Amid Surge in COVID Cases"
UMass Memorial in Worcester has reinstated a mask mandate for staff when interacting with patients due to a "dramatic increase" in COVID-19 positive employees, which has led to exposures of both caregivers and patients. The hospital may extend the mandate to anyone entering the building if the trend continues. The CDC reports a 21.6% increase in new hospitalizations nationwide and is monitoring a highly mutated COVID variant called BA.2.86 that could contribute to further spread.