Piedmont Columbus changes face mask policy for patients, visitors during omicron surge
Medical masks, rather than cloth masks, are now required for visitors and patients at Piedmont Columbus Regional.
The goal of the policy is to prevent the spread of the omicron variant of COVID-19, which public health officials say is the most highly transmissible variant of the virus thus far.
The updated masking policy will be in effect for visitors at the Midtown and Northside campuses, John B. Amos Cancer Center and Piedmont Physician offices, according to a news release from spokesperson Jessica Roberts.
Accepted surgical masks include KN95 or N95 masks. If a patient or visitor does not have one, staff will provide one, reads the news release.
The omicron surge has resulted in a record number of cases in Muscogee County. As of Jan. 21, there were 4,335 cases of COVID-19 in the last two weeks reported in the county at a rate of 2,262 cases per 100,000 people, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health.
“Due to the extremely high transmissibility of the Omicron variant, we felt that extra measures should be taken to protect our staff and patients from infection,” Dr. Chris Edwards, Chief Medical Officer of Piedmont Columbus Regional, said in the release.
Edwards recently spoke out about the COVID-19 surge in Columbus, encouraging residents to get vaccinated to prevent hospitalization. The majority of COVID-19 positive patients admitted to Piedmont Columbus Regional are unvaccinated, he wrote in the opinion piece.
As of Jan. 21, 47% of Muscogee County residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine, while 41% are fully vaccinated.
For more information about Piedmont’s policies, visitors and patients may visit piedmont.org.
