Health leaders in Alabama are keeping a close watch on the growing number of respiratory illnesses impacting the state. A few states are putting mask mandates back in place inside hospitals. Could Alabama follow suit?

The state department of health says they are deferring to the CDC when it comes to that guidance for hospitals.

The CDC suggests Alabama is one of several states who fall in the ‘very high’ category for respiratory illness activity. States like California, Illinois, and New York are bringing back mask mandates inside hospitals.

Alabama Department of Public Health medical officer Dr. Wes Stubblefield says they are referring hospitals to the CDC’s site for guidance. He says they continue to see increases in people hospitalized for COVID-19 and the flu.

“We continue to see an increase in the number of people hospitalized and seeking care for both COVID and influenza. We’ve seen people that have gone both to the emergency department, to outpatient clinics and then become hospitalized with these diseases,” said Stubblefield.