Hillary Clinton on Tuesday announced that she tested positive for the coronavirus after experiencing "mild cold symptoms," in today's bite-sized hospital and health industry news from Maryland and New York.

• Maryland: The University of Maryland Medical System's (UMMS) St. Joseph Medical Center and Capital Region Medical Center on Tuesday announced a partnership with Kaiser Permanente. Under the partnership, the two UMMS hospitals will be designated as Kaiser Premier hospitals. They will help Kaiser physicians provide inpatient services in an effort to increase access to value-based care. "This designation, which is afforded only to hospitals who meet high standards for patient safety, quality of care and patient comfort and experience, deepens the partnership between our two organizations and reflects UMMS' reputation for safety and quality," said Mohan Suntha, president and CEO of UMMS. (Devereaux, Modern Healthcare, 3/22)

• New York: Hillary Clinton on Tuesday evening announced that she had tested positive for the coronavirus. "I've got some mild cold symptoms but am feeling fine. I'm more grateful than ever for the protection vaccines can provide against serious illness," Clinton said. According to the statement, former President Bill Clinton tested negative. "He's quarantining until our household is fully in the clear. Movie recommendations appreciated!" Hillary Clinton said. She joins a growing list of prominent political figures who have recently contracted the virus, including former President Barack Obama and White House press secretary Jen Psaki. (Saric, Axios, 3/22)

• New York: New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday announced that masks will become optional for children under the age of five in schools and daycares around the city starting April 4, unless there is a rise in Covid-19 cases. Two weeks ago, the city lifted its mask mandate for K-12 public schools. Since then, Adams has been met with mounting pressure to drop the mandate for younger children as Covid-19 cases continued to decline in the city. "Our schools have been among the safest places for our children since the beginning of the pandemic, and we will only remove this requirement if the science says that it is safe to do so," Adams said. "We must get this right for the health of our kids, and I refuse to jeopardize their safety by rushing a decision," he added. (Chen, Axios, 3/22)