BALTIMORE — Several Eastern Shore hospitals have reinstated masking mandates this week, joining a growing number of health care centers in Maryland reporting unusually high numbers of influenza cases.

On Friday, TidalHealth announced that protective masking is required at its locations, which include TidalHealth Peninsula Regional in Salisbury and Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin.

Dr. Chris Snyder, a hospitalist and chief quality officer for TidalHealth, said flu rates are rising to the point that there is concern about staffing levels and the spread of infection to patients who do not already have the flu. He said emergency room visits are increasing, and there are currently about 100 patients hospitalized with influenza across three area hospitals.

“We’re definitely seeing a rise in the last two weeks, and we’re being precautious about it,” Snyder said.

He said symptoms of this year’s flu include sneezing, upper respiratory coughing that does not clear up and low-grade fevers.

“There’s also some other bugs going around that are hanging on with it,” he said. “There’s a GI bug that gives everybody this nausea, vomiting, diarrhea thing that kind of confuses the mix.” Otherwise, he said, “It’s the usual upper respiratory stuff.”

Snyder said patients are generally very sick for about three days, “and then you get all those nasty, runny noses, runny eyes, cough and all that good stuff that can last for two to six weeks, depending on your other illnesses.” He said asthmatics, older adults and patients with preexisting health conditions are at higher risk.

“It’s definitely something that triggers other problems, especially if you have cardiovascular disease or pulmonary disease on top of it,” Snyder said.

“It’s definitely going to be a bad season, and I think it was predicted to be,” he added.

Snyder said masking can help slow the spread of flu, especially in tight quarters. He also encouraged frequent handwashing and getting vaccinated.

“It’s not too late,” he said. “The vaccine takes a couple weeks to kick in, but, vaccine’s are probably the most preventative way” to avoid the flu.

Earlier this week, health centers in Central Maryland reported similarly high flu rates.

On Tuesday, The Baltimore Sun reported a surge in flu cases, with Luminis Health officials noting an increase in flu visits just after Thanksgiving. The University of Maryland Medical System has also reported higher-than-usual case counts.

Even Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson missed time in mid-December because of flu symptoms.

According to the latest Influenza Dashboard from the Maryland Department of Health, respiratory illness activity was classified as “high” last week, with more than 20,000 Marylanders clinically tested and a positive rate exceeding 34%.

The 8.23% rate of “Influenza-like Illness” is the highest for the week of Christmas in five years — and the second-highest rate for any single week during that period.

In a release, TidalHealth officials said all patients and visitors must wear surgical masks during patient visits. Masks are available at check-in, and those who do not wear masks will not be permitted to visit. Cloth masks are not acceptable, and visitors who are sick are asked to stay home.

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