PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Arizona reported a sharp rise in influenza cases this week, with state health data showing a 35% increase over the previous week, prompting hospitals to tighten safety measures.
Banner Health announced that beginning today, for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, patients, visitors and employees will be required to wear masks at all times inside Banner hospitals. The move follows a surge in local cases and comes as nearby New Mexico and Colorado register some of the highest flu activity in the nation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“I’m going to see flu cases, at least one or two an hour,” said Dr. Frank LoVecchio, an emergency physician at Valleywise Health. “With certainty, I’m going to say that there’s going to be people waiting in the emergency department for beds because the hospital is full.”
Medical experts say this season’s outbreak appears to be delayed, with cases peaking later than in a typical year. Although the CDC currently classifies Arizona’s flu activity as moderate, officials are watching the spread closely because the neighboring states’ high levels could presage further increases here.
Hospitals in the Phoenix area have begun preparing for heavier patient loads. “All hospitals are considering it,” Dr. LoVecchio said when asked whether other systems might adopt mask mandates similar to Banner’s.
Health officials and physicians stress two primary tools for slowing transmission: vaccination and masking. Dr. LoVecchio noted that some protection begins shortly after vaccination — “the good news is within about 10 days, you’ll have some antibodies” — with fuller protection developing in roughly two weeks.
Even when the vaccine is not a perfect match for circulating strains, doctors say it can substantially reduce severe illness and the need for hospitalization, particularly among children, seniors and people with underlying conditions. “We’ve seen that in the U.K., where the flu hit already, where it seems to be about 30 to 40% effective in decreasing the chances of hospitalization,” LoVecchio said.
Officials urged parents to consider vaccinating children as schools resume and to follow basic prevention measures: stay home when sick, wash hands frequently, wear a mask in crowded or clinical settings, and seek medical care if symptoms worsen.
State health data and the CDC will continue to be monitored for trends. Local hospitals say they are preparing staffing and bed-management plans to respond if cases continue to climb.
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