An infectious disease specialist in Newfoundland and Labrador says reinstating the mask mandate in health care facilities is a tool to overcome an increase in respiratory illnesses – which includes a notable increase in the number of people showing symptoms of pneumonia.

“All the different pathogens that were circulating were part of the decision to bring masks back into health care facilities for now. It seems like every few months something comes along that is a new pathogen that we haven’t seen. forward,” Dr. Natalie Bridger, clinical chief of infection prevention and control for NL Health Services’ eastern region, told CBC News on Monday.

Masks will be required in health facilities in Newfoundland and Labrador starting Tuesday morning. This includes clinical areas, waiting rooms and nursing stations. It also applies to all visitors and long-term care facilities.

The health authority plans to reevaluate the policy in March, but Bridger said it’s a dynamic process and could change if the epidemiology improves.

Bridger said the re-enforcement of the mandate was prompted by an increase in the prevalence of respiratory illnesses this fall, including COVID-19, pertussis — of which an outbreak declaration is still in effect — and an expected increase in influenza and the virus respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). ).

“We have noticed that this year people are presenting a little earlier than in previous years with respiratory symptoms,” she said. “VSR, I expect, will be a problem. It hasn’t taken off yet, but the whole point of this mandatory mask policy is to try to overcome the large increase in RSV, flu, and the continued likelihood of COVID-19 in the final fall months. .”

STOP | Diseases appear earlier than usual, says this doctor:

This is why a mask mandate has returned for patients, staff and visitors in health facilities in NL

Masks should be worn anywhere people receive care — such as emergency rooms, medical wards and other places in health care facilities. The policy will be reviewed in March 2025. But as infectious disease specialist Dr. Natalie Bridger explains to CBC’s Mark Quinn, the numbers showed it was time to act.

This is the first provincial mask mandate since February, when healthcare facilities introduced a similar requirement to combat rising cases of respiratory illness.

Masks will be available to people in health care settings, Bridger said, adding that he believes there won’t be much pushback from patients or staff given a perceived increase in illnesses.

Hospitals are seeing an increase in pneumonia cases

Another disease that plays a role in the mask mandate is mycoplasma pneumonia, commonly known as atypical pneumonia or “walking pneumonia.”

The bacterial infection typically affects school-age children the most, Bridger said, but he noted there has been an increase in cases, including at Janeway Children’s Hospital.

“The difference between mycoplasma pneumonia and other bacterial pneumonias that you hear about is that people can go about their daily lives a little bit easier. So they’re not, you know, sick in bed, can’t get out of bed and fever and that. something,” she said.

“We don’t always get a test, so we don’t always know what the pathogen is. But we do know that in people who have been tested, we’ve seen more mycoplasma pneumonia this season than we’ve had in previous seasons. .”

Bridger said symptoms of mycoplasma pneumonia can include a runny nose, cough and watery or red eyes. People who are asthmatic may also experience heightened symptoms, she said.

People who are sick with pneumonia should see their healthcare provider or go to the emergency room in severe cases, as the infection can be treated with antibiotics.

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