Chatham-Kent’s hospital is dropping some of its masking requirements for staff, patients and visitors.
The Chatham-Kent Health Alliance has announced that beginning on Monday, masking will no longer be required in non-clinical areas of the hospital, such as main lobbies, waiting areas, cafeterias, and elevators. However, masking in high-risk areas such as Oncology, Dialysis and the Emergency Department will remain a requirement for visitors and patients.
Hospital officials said the new masking rules will better align with current community protocols.
“The changes to our masking policy recognize that going forward we will live with COVID-19 for years to come. Following the latest provincial Public Health guidance, our updated masking guidelines will give some relief to our staff, physicians, volunteers, patients and visitors,” said Lori Marshall, CKHA’s president and CEO.
Staff and physicians will also be required to wear masks when they are within two metres of any patient in a clinical area unless there is a physical barrier present. Exceptions to this will apply when patients are under additional precautions or a unit is in an active outbreak.
While not mandatory, CKHA is still recommending that visitors also wear a mask when they are within two metres of patients.
“We continue to focus on mitigating risk for our most vulnerable patients and will continue to monitor our outbreak frequency, hospitalizations, intensive care admissions and community transmission of the virus,” said Marshall.
Medical grade masks will continue to be available at public entrances of both the Chatham and Wallaceburg sites.
