Policies requiring masks coming back due to omicron

As omicron continues to impact Mississippi and the entire nation, masks are once again being encouraged for all, even those who are vaccinated.

Due to how transmissible the omicron variant has appeared to be, health professionals are urging everyone to again wear masks more often and to make sure they’re being worn properly.

Emergency Department Patient Care Manager Rebecca Jones with Singing River Hospital in Ocean Springs reminds everyone to have their masks cover their whole nose and chin.

With surgical masks, the top of the mask can be molded to your face for better protection. For anyone who wears glasses, Jones suggests twisting the loops that go behind your ears to help prevent your lenses from fogging.

Properly wearing masks can be just as important as taking them off. “With the disposable masks, you want to consider it contaminated on the outside once you’re wearing it out. So, whenever you’re taking it off, you only want to take it off by the strings and not pull it off with your hands. Once you’ve touched it, it’s contaminated so you want to be sure to wash your hands after you’ve touched it.”

Today, Singing River had 554 people come through their COVID testing site in Ocean Springs. Thursday, they had 560.