A pandemic-era mainstay, face masks, are once again mandatory for St. Thomas hospital and being recommended by London’s two hospitals.
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Monday, officials with St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital announced that starting this week all visitors must be wearing masks while in waiting rooms and interacting with health-care workers – a change made in response to increasing rates of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses.
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By contrast, London’s two hospitals – St. Joseph’s Health Care London and London Health Sciences Center – are recommending, but not requiring, masks be worn by visitors “in all clinical areas and care settings when meeting with or speaking directly to a health care worker .”
But patients at both London hospitals “with a fever or respiratory symptoms” are required to wear masks.
“The fall respiratory season is upon us, and as we expected, it’s time for a renewed approach,” LHSC’s Dr. Kevin Chan said. The changes, he added, “help ensure staff, physicians, volunteers, patients, visitors and our community remain protected while respiratory viruses circulate this fall and winter.”
It was April when LHSC and St. Joe’s relaxed the masking rules that had been in place throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, hospital officials said: “It’s clear the COVID-19 pandemic has entered a new phase and it’s time for a new approach.”
Masks will be available at main entrances.
In places across Ontario, including in the Ottawa and Toronto areas, hospitals have begun to tighten masking requirements and recommendations for visitors, patients and staff amid increases in COVID-19 case counts and the expected seasonal return of respiratory illnesses.
The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada
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