CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Children's Hospital said all employees will be mandated to wear masks once again because of an increase in respiratory illnesses, including the flu, COVID and respiratory synclinal virus. 

The mandate goes into effect on Monday, Sept. 25. 

As for patients, families and visitors, the hospital said it's not required, but strongly encouraged to slow down the transmission of the viruses. 

Cincinnati Children's said the decision was made based off of evidence that masks help reduce the spread of illnesses and to promote the safety of everyone in its facilities. 

The move comes just a day after Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra said the federal government will restart the free at-home COVID tests program, which was suspended in June. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hospitalizations from COVID are up 7.7% in the last week across the U.S., and deaths are also up 4.5%.

In Ohio alone, there's been a more than 34% increase in hospitalizations since last week. There's also been a 13.4% increase in positive tests in the state, according to the CDC.