Horizon Health is once again requiring masking in all patient-facing and clinical areas starting Wednesday.
The health authority announced the change on Tuesday, saying it will apply to all health-care workers, patients, social visitors and designated support persons.
“We are seeing a rise in respiratory virus activity across our communities,” Horizon Health said in a news release.
“With this upward trend, and knowing this time of year historically leads to further increase of viral transmission, Horizon is taking a proactive and precautionary measure and reinstating masking in patient-facing/clinical areas.”
A medical-grade face mask must be worn in all inpatient units, outpatient and ambulatory care clinics, emergency departments and any other clinical setting.
Masking will not be required in non-clinical areas, such as lobbies, hallways and cafeterias.
The new policy is in addition to existing practices aimed at helping to reduce the transmission of illness in Horizon facilities.
Social visitors with new onset symptoms of a respiratory infection in the past 10 days or those who have tested positive for a respiratory illness in the last 10 days are not allowed to visit.
DSPs who fall into one of those categories are asked not to enter and to contact the nursing unit for further direction.
Symptomatic patients may attend their appointment as planned, but they must clean their hands, put on a mask and inform their health-care team that they have not passed self-screening.
Continuous use of medical-grade face masks is required for health-care workers and DSPs on outbreak units, as well as patients who are out of their rooms. Social visitors are not allowed to visit patients in a unit experiencing a respiratory virus outbreak.
“The health and safety of patients and families, and those who work and learn in our facilities, is supported with enhanced infection prevention and control practices during respiratory illness season,” said Horizon Health.
Meanwhile, Vitalité Health said it does not currently have plans to change its existing masking policy.
Masking is mandatory in units affected by a respiratory virus outbreak, and everyone else is encouraged to wear masks on a voluntary basis.
“We closely monitor respiratory virus activity and continually evaluate the need to reassess health measures to protect everyone’s health,” an unnamed spokesperson said in an email to our newsroom.
