Masking still required in Huron

While mandatory masking is no longer required in many areas of area hospitals, the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance is maintaining mandatory masking in hospital emergency departments for both patients and staff.

The Stratford-area hospital group will continue requiring patients and staff to wear face masks in its emergency rooms despite that requirement being lifted in many other areas of the province.

Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance officials announced Monday that masking at its hospitals is encouraged – but no longer required – in many clinical areas, with one notable exception – emergency departments. That decision, hospital group officials said, was made in conjunction with hospitals throughout the southwest region and based on the most recent Public Health Ontario guidance.

"There's still isolation requirements for patients with certain conditions. They have certain illnesses and they need to have additional (personal protective equipment) being worn when they’re treated," said Erica Jensen, the hospital group's manager of quality, patient safety and infection control . "In the emergency department, when people show up, they can be unpredictable. They’re in the early stages of their illness, so we find things change quickly. So maybe when they present, they didn't have any of these symptoms (that require the wearing of masks) and, in a couple hours, things may change.

"So we just want to be prepared. There's lots of vulnerable people close together (in emergency departments), and it's just our best way of keeping everyone as safe as possible in an unpredictable, unknown environment."

While mandatory masking throughout hospitals was introduced to curb the spread of COVID-19 during the pandemic, keeping the requirement in place in emergency departments, while leaving the door open for the reintroduction of wider masking mandates in other areas during influenza season or the community spread of other respiratory illnesses, better protects both patients and staff, Jensen noted.

"We’ve seen (masking) be really effective for influenza this year and these past few years, so if we can avoid (spreading) respiratory illness of any kind, that's definitely what we want to do," Jensen said.

As was the rule even before the COVID-19 pandemic, masking will be required throughout hospitals for people who are experiencing symptoms of respiratory infection, like cough, fever and sore throat, and for those accompanying or visiting a patient with these symptoms. Medical-grade masks will be provided at stations set up throughout area hospitals, not just at entrances.

"There's lots of signs up throughout (all hospitals) and, if it's a patient room where you need to wear a mask, there will be a great big sign before you get into the room so you won't have to wonder," Jensen said.

Staff, including doctors, are also required to wear masks when providing care for patients in the emergency department or in isolation, as well as when treating patients who are showing symptoms of respiratory illnesses. Staff are also required to wear masks if they are experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness.

"This is our plan for how we’re going to manage non-respiratory seasons. In the summer, we don't see as many respiratory illnesses in circulation, so this seems like a safe time to go this route," Jensen said. "We’ll re-evaluate how we want to plan as an organization as respiratory season comes back in the fall."

Though it may not be required, the healthcare alliance suggests those visiting the hospital wear a mask if they have an underlying medical condition, are immunocompromised, are an older adult, have close contacts who are more likely to get very sick if they contract COVID-19, are in a crowded space, or if they’ve been exposed to someone who is sick and are likely to become sick themselves.

"We still know that masks are effective in preventing the spread of respiratory illnesses, so if you are especially vulnerable or have vulnerable people at home, we would encourage you to continue to wear a mask because there's lots of sick people in our buildings," Jensen said.

[email protected]

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.