Measles is one of the world’s most contagious viruses and there is now one reported case in Florida. It’s been confirmed at a high school in Miami–Dade.

The latest from the Vatican on Monday morning indicated that Pope Francis remains in critical condition receiving treatment for double pneumonia and a mild renal insufficiency.

Dr. Sunil Joshi, the city’s chief health officer talked with News4JAX from Mayor Donna Deegan’s town hall to talk about the spike in flu cases across the United States, what the city is doing, and what you can do to protect yourself.

Cost should not be the reason you don’t get vaccinated against the flu this year. Those without health insurance can get a voucher for a free shot.

Mayor Donna Deegan will sign the Paris Declaration, making Jacksonville an official Fast-Track City, during a ceremony in City Hall on Wednesday, which is National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day.

As we head into flu season, doctors say now is a great time for those 6 months and older to get vaccinated.

No myths or costs should keep you from getting your yearly flu vaccine. That’s the message from the #FluVaxJax campaign which is encouraging everyone who is able to get vaccinated against the flu to do so.

Cost should not be the reason you don’t get vaccinated against the flu this year. Those without health insurance can get a voucher for a free shot.

If you suffer from certain respiratory conditions, your lungs may feel the effects of the hot and humid air.

A heatwave is headed to the Central and Eastern portions of the United States next week with dangerous temperatures anticipated to be near or over 100 degrees.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug to help people with food allergies in the event they are accidentally exposed.

A new billboard around Jacksonville is bringing awareness to maternal syphilis rates during pregnancy, which according to the CDC more than tripled from 2016 to 2022.

As many as 10% of people who think they are allergic to penicillin aren’t.

The Jacksonville City Council is expected to vote Tuesday on an initiative that aims to improve local rates of infant mortality.

Thousands of people in Northeast Florida have signed up for affordable healthcare after the city of Jacksonville launched a brand-new initiative last month — “Get Covered Jax” — in the hopes of getting those without health insurance enrolled.

According to the American Diabetes Association, 11.6% of Floridians had diabetes compared to the national average of 9.4%.

We could see an uptick in flu cases in the weeks ahead, and doctors say now is a great time for those 6 months and older to get vaccinated.

No myths or costs should keep you from getting your yearly flu vaccine. That’s the message from the #FluVaxJax campaign which is encouraging everyone who is able to get vaccinated against the flu to do so.

Cost should not be the reason you don’t get vaccinated against the flu this year -- that’s the message from the Duval County Medical Society Foundation.

September and October are best times to get the shot

It's been so hot lately that Jacksonville has opened its cooling centers to help people with no air conditioning a chance to cool down.

According to Jacksonville’s Chief Health Officer, there could be a correlation between the large number of cases and the recent heat wave.

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan on Monday is set to announce plans to help keep city residents cool when extreme temperatures hit.

July is already the warmest month on record and the excessive heat has Mayor Donna Deegan’s administration worried about what is to come.

If it seems as if allergy season struck with a vengeance earlier this year and you started suffering sooner than usual, you’re not alone. It did. There are several reasons why.

Record-breaking warm weather is leading to a longer pollen season, and for many, that means sneezing, coughing and an itchy throat.

Flu hospitalizations are the highest they have been in 10 years, and the Southeast U.S. is being hit particularly hard with more than 2,000 patients hospitalized.

News4JAX ran a statement from Florida’s surgeon general through the Trust Index after Twitter flagged the state Department of Health’s new anti-vaccine guidance as misinformation.

The #FluVaxJax campaign officially launched Wednesday for the third year to rally the community together to get as many people as possible protected from a severe or life-threatening case of the flu.

With the surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, and the upcoming flu season looming, there’s a renewed push to keep flu patients out of the hospital.

Coronavirus isn’t quite gone and certainly hasn’t been forgotten, but the virus doesn’t panic people as it did during the height of the pandemic over the past two years.

The first official day of spring is roughly 2 weeks away but that hasn’t stopped seasonal allergies. With our pollen count on the rise, you’ve most likely reached for a tissue this week or rubbed your eyes.

More than 130,000 public school students in Duval County are heading back to school on Tuesday and the rules are changing based on high coronavirus numbers.

More than 130,000 public school students in Duval County are heading back to school on Tuesday and the rules are changing based on high coronavirus numbers.

While COVID-19 cases spike locally and across the nation, doctors worry about the youngest patients.

UF Health Jacksonville had considered no longer ordering the Regeneron monoclonal antibody treatment but with the new numbers from the CDC, they backed off that decision and will continue to offer Regeneron treatment, Neilsen said.

Dr. Sunil Joshi, president of the Duval County Medical Society Foundation, believes the at-home tests the federal government will provide will be an effective tool in the fight against the growing spread of the omicron variant.

UF Health is recommending that people wear N95 or KN95 masks in public settings rather than cloth or surgical masks, which don’t fit as closely to the face.

Citing a new state law signed Thursday by Gov. Ron DeSantis, Duval County Public Schools says it is suspending its requirement for parents to opt their children out of wearing a face covering.

Drugmaker Merck on Monday requested emergency use authorization for its antiviral pill against COVID-Drugmaker Merck asked U.S. regulators Monday to authorize its pill for treating COVID-19 in what would add an entirely new and easy-to-use weapon to the world’s arsenal against the pandemic.

As Pfizer asks the FDA to approve its COVID-19 vaccine for children between 5 and 11 years old, local doctors believe it will be safe and effective.

Florida’s newly announced protocols that allow parents to decide whether their children should quarantine or stay in school if they are asymptomatic after being exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 could put many more students at risk of becoming infected, according to Dr. Sunil Joshi, an immunologist with Baptist Health.

New COVID-19 cases have been leveling off in the Duval County school district over the last two weeks since a mask mandate went into effect.

The doctor says there should be a focus on getting people their initial doses of the vaccine, giving vaccine boosters to those who need it and getting kids under 12 the shot as well.

News4Jax spoke with a woman who had a breakthrough case, and she believes the COVID-19 vaccine is the only reason she’s not another statistic.

With the surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, and the upcoming flu season looming, there’s a renewed push to keep flu patients out of the hospital.

The number of children testing positive for COVID-19 is on the rise.

A one-page information graphic outlining the Florida Department of Education’s recommendations on how school districts should combat COVID-19 was sent out to superintendents earlier this month, but it fails to include what medical experts conclude are the most effective mitigation strategies.

There will be a new mask mandate in the St. Johns County School District, but only for employees.

Hours of fiery debate involving doctors, parents and local leaders dominated a special Duval County School Board meeting Monday before the board approved a 90-day student mask mandate with a medical opt-out.

After opening a new rapid response unit to administer monoclonal antibody treatments in Jacksonville last week, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday announced a similar unit has opened in Orlando.

monoclonal antibody treatment in Jacksonville but a doctor referral is needed.

As the start of school inches closer for kids in the area, some parents are making their children get vaccinated before going back to school.

Baptist Health reported its highest number this week of COVID-19 patients in intensive care with 107 in ICU at its five hospitals on Saturday.

As of Thursday, Baptist Health had 569 patients that are positive with COVID-19 admitted in its facilities, according to the hospital’s CEO, Michael Mayo.

No end in sight: That’s what doctors and health officials say about the latest surge in COVID-19 cases in Jacksonville.

As hospitalizations due to COVID-19 continue to leave emergency rooms overwhelmed, a well-known Jacksonville immunologist on Monday called for Gov. Ron DeSantis to declare a state of emergency in Florida.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for all the federal agency’s health care personnel and is imposing a two-month deadline for those employees to get vaccinated.

COVID-19 cases more than doubled in Nassau County in the last 7 days.

Dr. Sunil Joshi, president of the Duval County Medical Society Foundation, discusses the rise in coronavirus cases and the increase in hospitalizations. We also discuss the crisis in Cuba with Congressman Al Lawson, D-Tallahassee, and Sen. Rick Scott, R-Florida, offer their analysis on Cuba as well as the American Rescue Plan and new child tax credits.

A surge in COVID-19 cases has Jacksonville medical experts concerned, especially with children going back to school soon.

There was a sense of back to normal when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear masks. On Friday, the World Health Organization came out and said masks should stay on.

Biopharmaceutical company Pfizer has administered its first COVID-19 booster shots.

On this edition of “This Week in Jacksonville,” U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack weighs in on what’s happening on the southern border. We’re also digging into why some parents can’t say enough about school choice and where the issue stands on its way through the Florida Legislature. Plus, Dr. Sunil Joshi talks about the COVID-19 vaccine and what happened with Johnson & Johnson's.

The pause in Johnson & Johnson vaccinations will continue after U.S. health advisers told the government Wednesday that they need more evidence to decide if a handful of unusual blood clots were linked to the shot -- and if so, how big the potential risk really is.

I got the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. Now what?

While the FDA and CDC have put a pause on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, for now, the medical community still recommends people get the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine to protect against the coronavirus in the meantime.

Here are the answers to some of your most frequently asked questions about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Shortly after the U.S. is recommended a “pause” in the administration of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday morning to investigate reports of potentially dangerous blood clots, Jacksonville doctors said while there is some cause for concern, cases still are extremely rare.

Gateway Mall and other vaccination sites run by the federal government in Jacksonville discontinued giving Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccines after a joint call from the CDC and FDA. State-run sites and private pharmacies have also suspended giving J&J doses but continue with the two-shot vaccines.

There’s a good chance you’ll have to get the COVID-19 vaccine every year, according to a local doctor.

Starting Monday, Floridians ages 16 and 17 will be eligible to get the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, which is the only vaccine authorized for those under 18.

ORLANDO, Fla. – They’re called COVID-19 breakthrough cases: People who have been fully vaccinated yet still contract the virus more than 14 days after their second shot. Dr. Sunil Joshi, president of the Duval County Medical Foundation, compared the COVID-19 vaccine to the flu vaccine. She said she was shocked because she is also fully vaccinated. AdDr. Timothy Hendrix, with Advent Health, also pointed out that it is possible for someone who is fully vaccinated to still contract the virus. “I don’t think the public is aware that it doesn’t mean you’re not getting the virus, and it doesn’t mean you’re not getting sick.

People were in line when the site opened at 10 a.m. to offer the Johnson & Johnson vaccine without appointments. Many in line told News4Jax they specifically wanted the J&J vaccine, which is a single shot and does not require a second dose. News4Jax was told similar pop-up clinics offering the J&J vaccine will be held in Jacksonville in the next two days:WednesdayUniversity Park Library, 3435 University Blvd. Getting vaccinated in Northeast FloridaAdAttention 📢 The @FLSERT one-day Johnson & Johnson vaccine event at the Dallas Graham Library has reached its capacity of 250 doses administered and is now closed. With the drop, the state-run vaccination sites across Duval County administered close to 4,000 out of 6,900 available vaccine doses on Monday.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Twenty percent of COVID-19 cases in Duval County are in the 25 to 34 age group, according to the Florida Department of Health. Dr. Sunil Joshi, president of the Duval County Medical Society Foundation, said the numbers are high because this age group hasn’t been vaccinated yet and it’s usually the age group to not take as serious of precautions as older people. According to state Department of Health data, the 25 to 44 age range makes up 36% of all Duval County cases. In Duval County, data shows, 39% of new cases are in the 25 to 44 age range. AdIn the 25 to 44 age range, 29 people have died in Duval County, according to FDOH.

When the pharmacy received doses of the Moderna vaccine in January, it was administering about 100 shots a day. Nabet Gray received her first dose of the Pfizer vaccine at Panama Pharmacy on Monday. I really enjoy it.”Dr. Sunil Joshi, president of the Duval County Medical Society Foundation, said getting vaccine doses into smaller pharmacies like Panama Pharmacy is important. Joshi said he wants to see more vaccine doses go to smaller, locally-owned pharmacies. Oliver said Panama Pharmacy will be receiving 2,000 vaccine doses every week.

AdThe four federal sites in Florida -- the three others located in Orlando, Tampa and Miami -- will only offer second doses of the Pfizer vaccine April 7 through April 14. The satellite sites associated with each hub site -- including the two satellite sites in Duval County -- will continue to only administer second-dose shots between Wednesday and April 14. All satellite sites will return to their original locations over the next three weeks. AdFDEM said Monday that the state is working closely with the federal government to evaluate if the federal sites can remain open past April 28. FDEM’s announcement Monday came on the same day Vice President Kamala visited the Gateway Mall site and the same day the state expanded vaccine eligibility to Floridians age 50 and older.

Jacksonville, Fla. – Dr. Sunil Joshi, president of the Duval County Medical Society Foundation, is concerned that the Gateway Mall and two satellite federal vaccination site are about to stop giving first doses before the majority of Floridians get their shots. Ron DeSantis says he expects to drop the age requirement altogether within the next few weeks. “Demand is starting to increase above supply, which is where we were in December and early January when people were complaining about the long lines and also difficulty getting into making appointments to get the vaccine,” Joshi said. “Let’s hope that the federal sites will come back and can provide vaccines, especially in these underserved where they were doing them very successfully.”AdWHEN? Getting vaccinated in Northeast FloridaWatch Joshi’s full interview with News4Jax anchor Jennifer Waugh above.

There are vaccine trials underway for both children and pregnant women. Vaccine option for children in the worksAs more people become eligible to get COVID-19 shots, Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson say they are working on a vaccine option for children. Right now, the one-dose Johnson & Johnson shot and two-dose Moderna vaccine are approved for people 18 and older. FDA has not yet OK’d the vaccine for pregnant womenThe FDA has not yet recommended any of the three COVID-19 vaccine options available in the U.S. for pregnant women. Johnson & Johnson said it will start trials with pregnant women and infants but has not given a timeline on when those will begin.

It’s the perfect time of year to be outside, but with that comes itchy eyes and sneezing as pollen accumulates on your skin and clothes. Over the weekend, pollen levels jumped as high as 10.2, and they sat at 10.4 on Monday. News4Jax spoke with immunologist Dr. Sunil Joshi, president of the Duval County Medical Society Foundation, about several ways to combat allergies. Joshi said pollen is at its worst in the morning and around sunset. “Thick pollen coating everything outside "“Zyrtec d daily,” said Theresa Maria Garcia.

In comparison, tests showed the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were 95% effective at protection against symptomatic COVID-19. The biggest difference between the vaccines: Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses, while the J&J vaccine requires one dose. In addition, the J&J vaccine uses inactivated virus, while the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines use messenger RNA technology. AdIf the FDA clears the J&J vaccine for U.S. use, it will not boost vaccine supplies significantly right away. “We want people to make these choices, but there’s a lot to be said for Johnson & Johnson.

He said 47.4% of the adult population in Northeast Florida got the flu shot. “I think the campaign really helped, promoting the safety and efficacy of the flu vaccine. People have learned how safe and effective the vaccine is at preventing the flu,” explained Dr. Joshi. The flu vaccine can be very, very helpful at preventing the flu and preventing people from being hospitalized as a result of the flu,” said Dr. Joshi. However, he said you should not get the flu shot if you have received the Covid-19 vaccine within the last 14 days.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – From grandchildren and grandparents having to wait to see each other to guidelines that seem to constantly change, many people have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine and when life will get back to normal. Question: If I am exposed to COVID-19 after getting the first COVID-19 vaccine shot in the series, do I need to quarantine? Question: If I got the full vaccine series, when can I hug my grandchildren? Right now, getting the vaccine series doesn’t change anything in the terms of the typical guidelines. If you were treated for COVID-19 symptoms with monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma, you should wait 90 days before getting a COVID-19 vaccine, according to the CDC.

RELATED: Portal mistake allows high-risk people younger than 65 vaccine appointment at Walmart, Sam’s ClubAdWalmart begins giving does Friday for those who already have appointments. Walmart stores in Baker County, Bradford County, Clay County and Columbia County will also offer the vaccine, according to the governor. AdDeSantis said expanding vaccination efforts to Walmart stores across the state will help address some of the inequality issues raised by critics. The federal pharmacy program will also get more doses to Publix stores across the state. There’ll be six Publix in Clay County, and they’ll also be one in Columbia County,” DeSantis said.

Walmart stores in Baker County, Bradford County, Clay County and Columbia County will also offer the vaccine, according to the governor. DeSantis said expanding vaccination efforts to Walmart stores across the state will help address some of the inequality issues raised by critics. The federal pharmacy program will also get more doses to Publix stores across the state. There’ll be six Publix in Clay County, and they’ll also be one in Columbia County,” DeSantis said. About 42% of all seniors in Duval County have received at least one vaccine shot, DeSantis said, which is better than the state average.

Ron DeSantis on Tuesday announced that 18 Walmart stores in Jacksonville will begin administering doses of the COVID-19 vaccine starting Friday. DeSantis, who was joined by Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry at the Walmart Supercenter on Atlantic Boulevard, said there will be 119 Walmart stores across 34 Florida counties that will offer the COVID-19 vaccine for senior citizens. Walmart stores in Baker County, Bradford County, Clay County and Columbia County will also offer the vaccine, according to the governor. DeSantis said expanding vaccination efforts to Walmart stores across the state will help address some of the inequality issues raised by critics. There’ll be six Publix in Clay County, and they’ll also be one in Columbia County,” DeSantis said.

Since we’re spending more time indoors, it’s important to eliminate as many allergens inside as possible. These tasks around your home will also help eliminate pollen inside:Dust weekly. “Those are little critters that hide inside of our mattress and our pillows and our box spring,” Joshi said. In Northeast Florida, the most common allergens during the spring tree pollen months is oak. “Oak trees pollinate during the tree pollen season which is in the spring, so from right around now all the way through Mother’s Day, roughly,” Joshi said.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville will be opening another COVID-19 vaccination site at a senior center -- this time in one of the city’s underserved neighborhoods. Individuals who are feeling sick should not go to a vaccination site. After receiving the vaccine, patients must stay on site for at least 15 minutes to be monitored for potential reactions by healthcare and emergency professionals. While allergic reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine are rare, this safety measure is in place out of an abundance of caution. The city’s new senior center vaccination site opens as a group of local church and community leaders announced their own plan to do the same.

President Joe Biden’s administration announced Tuesday that it will expand access to COVID-19 vaccines by distributing them to 6,500 retail pharmacies next week. Dr. Sunil Joshi, head of the Duval County Medical Society, said he thinks the plan of expanding vaccine distribution to pharmacies in underserved areas is an important step. RELATED: Task force calls for COVID-19 vaccine sites to expand to minority communitiesHe said the key in getting vaccines into underserved communities is trust. Walgreen’s website says the CDC is working with their pharmacies to optimize vaccine access in areas with a high social vulnerability index score. AdThe number of participating pharmacies and the allocation of vaccines is expected to accelerate as drug makers increase production.

CVS, Walgreens, Winn-Dixie, Walmart, Sam’s Club and Costco are among the big-name companies will soon join Publix in getting COVID-19 vaccines out into senior citizens and others who qualify for a shot. Walgreen’s website says the CDC is working with their pharmacies to optimize vaccine access in areas with a high social vulnerability index score. The number of participating pharmacies and the allocation of vaccines is expected to grow as drug makers increase production. It is allowing state and local governments to receive additional federal dollars to cover previously incurred expenses relating to the pandemic. Participating are major chains like CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid, big box stores such as Walmart and Costco, and supermarket pharmacies.

The president said that with those additional doses, there will be enough to fully vaccinate 300 million Americans by the end of summer. This week, the president also said that by summer, the United States should be “well on our way to heading toward herd immunity.”News4Jax put those claims to the Trust Index. The question is not only will there be enough shots available and vaccine sites up and running by spring, but will there be enough people willing to get the vaccine for herd immunity? The number of people who need to be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity differs for each virus. Biden’s statement is true that if everything goes according to his plan, the country can be well on the way to herd immunity.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A new epidemiological study from the University of Florida found that while children are less susceptible to COVID-19, they can be nearly 60% more likely than adults over 60 to infect exposed family members. The overall contribution of child cases to household transmission was still limited, the study determined, as children were isolated faster than adults who were infected. Older adults were more likely to become infected than younger household members, especially those under age 20. While children were less susceptible to COVID-19 infection than adults and they generally experienced less severe symptoms, they were just as likely to develop symptoms as adults. “I recommend following CDC guidelines and taking extra caution when a household or family member is infected,” Yang said.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – This time last year, allergy season was in full swing. Dr. Sunil Joshi, an allergist at Family Allergy and Asthma Consultants, says the continuous cold weather will definitely push the start of allergy season back. With allergy season starting later, it will make the total season shorter. “Our tree pollen season typically ends by around Mother’s Day, or certainly by the end of May. Not to mention it’s important to know the difference between allergies and symptoms of the coronavirus.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Florida is expecting to get around 120,000 doses of the vaccine as part of the first phase of distribution. The priority for health officials are hospitals and long-term care facilities. It’s likely the first doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine will be sent out within 48 hours. Partnering with the Division of Emergency Management and the Florida National Guard, the department said it will form “strike teams” to get those doses to where they’re badly needed at long-term care facilities. With 19,500 going to each hospital facility, UF Health in Jacksonville is one of them.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The FDA will start its review Thursday of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, which is said to be 95% effective, according to the company. Ahead of Thursday’s meeting, the FDA says its analysis found the Pfizer vaccine is safe, and health experts with Mayo Clinic echoed that. “We are very confident that the Pfizer vaccine and Moderna vaccine will get the emergency use authorization,” said Dr. Abinash Virk with Mayo Clinic. Virk said both vaccines are safe overall, but may cause some mild symptoms. It is important to note, that it is not uncommon to advise people with severe allergies to be cautious when it comes to new vaccines.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As we head into winter, one of the biggest concerns is the collision between seasonal flu and the coronavirus. No one likes to get a shot, but getting vaccinated against the seasonal flu is vital. “It is critically important to get the flu vaccine this year as much as any other year, mainly because we want to keep people out of the hospital,” Joshi said. And that’s, ultimately, the goal, is to not let that happen.”If you start getting flu-like symptoms, you might not know if you have the flu or if you have COVID-19. “For these folks, getting the flu vaccine may be cost-prohibitive, and so we want to minimize that as much as possible,” he said.

Dr. Sunil Joshi with the Duval County Medical Society is glad to see people are still exercising. “Your mental and physical health during this pandemic, and now with colder weather, is very, very important,” Dr. Joshi said. Dr. Joshi says because viruses do better with less humidity, they tend to spread more quickly during winter months. “When you’re waking up in the morning and it’s 29 degrees, this is not the best time of day to be exercising,” Dr. Joshi said. “Almost like wearing a mask,” Dr. Joshi said.

Pfizer released no specific breakdowns, but for the vaccine to be 90% effective, nearly all the infections must have occurred in placebo recipients. But in July, Pfizer signed a contract to supply the U.S. with 100 million doses for $1.95 billion, assuming the vaccine is cleared by the FDA. Pfizer said its only involvement in Operation Warp Speed is that those doses are part of the administration’s goal to have 300 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines ready sometime next year. Earlier this year, Fauci said he would be happy with a COVID-19 vaccine that was 60% effective. TESTING TIMELINE: What’s ahead for COVID-19 vaccinesPfizer has estimated it could have 50 million doses available globally by the end of 2020, enough for 25 million people.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville’s mask mandate due to expire Tuesday has been extended through Thanksgiving, according to city officials. It must be renewed every 30 days by Mayor Lenny Curry or it will expire. I’m just going to back away ... and give you my 6 feet," Scott told him. Jacksonville Dr. Sunil Joshi said that with flu season here, this would have been the worst time to end the mask mandate. He said for those with “mask fatigue” -- wearing a mask could help ensure good hospital treatment for other emergencies.