In light of an uptick in respiratory infections, Bavarian clinics are reviving stringent safety protocols for staff and visitors. Nuremberg Hospital, for instance, has enforced a mask policy since last week, encouraging visitors to wear medical masks indoors and patients to don masks upon leaving patient rooms. Employees with direct patient contact are also required to wear masks.
Erlangen University Hospital, since mid-November, has suggested donning masks and avoiding entry for visitors with coughs or sore throats. Patients must also enter the facility wearing masks. As winter approaches annually, numerous absences due to colds and viral infections, including COVID-19, cast a tense shadow over staffing situations.
Regensburg University Hospital instituted enhanced protective measures for respiratory diseases in October, mandating masks for employees interacting with patients. Visitors with symptoms are asked to postpone or wear masks.
University Hospital Augsburg encourages masking for visitors in certain areas, including the intensive care unit, where patients are most vulnerable. Munich Clinic currently relies on staff recommendations for mask-wearing, but takes similar precautions. Ingolstadt Hospital continues to rely on visitor responsibility, requesting masks for symptomatic visitors and potentially limiting or halting visits to specific areas facing disease outbreaks.
Recent data from the Robert Koch Institute shows a significant increase in serious respiratory infections, particularly affecting children and young adults aged 15 to 34. Despite this rise, young child infections remained at levels comparable to the pre-pandemic seasons.
In response to flourishing respiratory infections — including influenza and coronavirus — Bavarian hospitals are bolstering protective measures. While current mask requirements in hospitals remain unspecified, visitors are urged to wear medical masks, specifically in enclosed spaces, to shield both themselves and vulnerable patients.
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Enrichment Data
Since January 2021, Bavaria has implemented assorted measures to manage COVID-19, including FFP2 mask mandates on public transportation and in supermarkets, excluding specific groups such as children under 14 and bus drivers. However, the present mask requirements for Bavarian hospitals due to the surge in influenza-like and coronavirus infections are not detailed in these sources.
For accurate, up-to-date information, consult recent health guidelines or official announcements from the Bavarian government or health authorities. These protocols might have adapted since January 2021 in response to pandemic developments.
