LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas – Federal officials recently eased some masking rules after more than two years of pandemic precautions, allowing Arkansas health workers to finally treat patients in person again. .

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has eased mask mandates in healthcare settings.

Robert Hopkins, a physician and professor of internal medicine and pediatrics at UAMS, said, “Wearing masks in medicine and throughout the U.S. population has never been a normal cultural practice.

Since the pandemic, wearing masks is mandatory in medical facilities.

“Masks are inconvenient. They’re certainly uncomfortable,” Hopkins said.

On Friday, the CDC updated its policy for healthcare workers.

“It makes sense that healthcare providers would not continue to mandate masks in areas with low infection rates,” Hopkins said.

Robert Hopkins has over 40 years of experience as a physician.

“Ever since I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a doctor. My family tells me that they put together a first aid kit when they were preschoolers,” Hopkins said.

She said she enjoys being in direct contact with patients.

“I miss seeing people’s faces,” Hopkins said.

Unfortunately for Arkansas, “no county has a low risk of infection,” Hopkins said.

With flu season fast approaching, Hopkins said, “As long as respiratory illness remains prevalent, we’ll continue to wear masks when we’re with other people.”

Dr. Hopkins said he’s looking forward to the day when we’ll be a little more normal, but until then we’ll continue to wear masks.

“Masks are a pretty small investment to make for the health of ourselves and those around us,” Hopkins said.

Hopkins said everyone at UAMS will continue to wear masks until Pulaski County is deemed less infected.

If Arkansas goes in that direction, it will also change its mask policy for patients.

For more information on the updated CDC masking policy, visit the following website: CDC website.