Focus: Infection Control

Hospital procedural change blamed for 6 nurses testing positive

Syracuse hospital told nurses it was no longer necessary to wear N95 masks and that surgical masks are enough


Nurses at St. Joseph's Hospital in Syracuse, N.Y.,  said hospital officials told them it was no longer necessary to wear N95 masks and that surgical masks are enough, according to an article on the CNY Central website.

They further blame a change in the hospital's airflow system at the end of April and believe it contributed to six of them getting sick.

The hospital has been treating COVID-19 patients since March and no nurses got sick. But, the nurses say, after the procedure change six of their colleagues have contracted COVID-19.

Plus, at one point, the hospital took down the negative pressure unit, a nurse said. It has since restarted the negative pressure airflow throughout the COVID-19 unit.

Read the article.



May 22, 2020


Topic Area: Infection Control


Recent Posts

5 Reasons Engineering is the Edge in Healthcare Master Planning

The most successful plans go further to unlock smarter investments, improve resilience and enable better patient outcomes.


Building an AI-Ready Healthcare Facility 

Creating a secure, standardized data foundation can help facilities teams put AI to work more effectively.


Family Medical Associates of Raleigh Reports April 2026 Data Breach

The investigation has found evidence that between April 18, 2026, and April 20, 2026, an unauthorized actor intermittently accessed some FMAR systems.


Every Detail Matters: A Patient's Story of Healing, Hope and Healthcare Facilities

In the Facilities in Focus season finale, 11-year-old Kendalynn and her mother share how Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital became more than a place for care.


Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center Tops Off New 11-Story Tower

The expansion will improve the patient experience by transitioning the hospital to all private patient rooms while significantly increasing clinical capacity.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.