As the number of positive COVID patients and staff continues to rise, Cookeville Regional is returning to some of its previous mask precautions.
Chief Strategy Officer Ricky Shelton said that since July 1st, some 70 staff members have tested positive.
“Our employees, while we’re still having to wear them in the hospital, in meetings in the hospital and other things we didn’t have to,” Shelton said. “It reinstitutes that part that inside the building, in meetings, to wear masks again when you’re in close contact.”
Shelton said that the recommendation comes from the Infectious Disease Department at Cookeville Regional. Shelton said that the mask policy for visitors has remained the same since it started, with masks required upon entering the building.
Shelton said thankfully the new variants are less serious, it still is infectious.
“I can say that just looking at the number of employees in a three-week period, that amount was where this kind of precaution came from,” Shelton said. “Otherwise if it goes back down and employee count goes back down those policies will become relaxed again.”
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