As COVID mortality starts increasing at an unprecedented pace to start 2024, mask mandates are returning.

Johns Hopkins instituted a policy requiring masks for patients, visitors and employees regardless of vaccination status.

COVID-19 may no longer be considered an urgent public health crisis by government authorities, yet its presence remains. According to data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, deaths associated with the virus increased 12.5% year-on-year during week 1 as opposed to week 4 last year.

Massachusetts, Missouri and New Jersey experienced dramatic spikes in COVID-19 deaths within one week of 2024's commencement.

Health officials believe the U.S. is far better equipped than it used to be to deal with COVID-19 outbreaks; with safe and effective vaccines and treatments that were unavailable back then. Hospitalization rates and positive tests may still increase but health authorities believe our nation can handle COVID-19 better today than it ever could before.

Although much has changed since 2020, one preventive measure - mask mandates - are back.

Johns Hopkins Medicine announced Friday it will require masks for patients, visitors and employees at all of its Maryland healthcare facilities, regardless of vaccination status.

"This requirement will remain in effect while viral respiratory illness rates remain elevated," according to a statement by the hospital.

COVID-19 cases in the U.S. have surged dramatically during 2018 due to JN.1, with it accounting for over 60% of new cases reported this year alone. As noted by the CDC, JN.1 may either be more transmittable or adept at bypassing our immune systems than its variant counterparts. 

Over time, as more variants of Zika have surfaced over recent years, more symptoms have surfaced for people exposed to it. Initial complaints included loss of taste and smell - although research shows only about 6% reported these issues as part of their infection experience. 

Danny Altmann, professor of immunology at Imperial College London, told BBC that symptoms vary for different variants.

"Sometimes our initial symptoms include headache, while on other occasions they've been more digestive," he noted. While they would all like things to return back to normal as soon as possible, COVID won't simply disappear on its own. 

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