The province is lifting most remaining mask requirements but some local hospitals will still require face coverings.
As of Saturday, the province is revoking its directive to hospitals regarding masks and instead offering guidance.
President and CEO of the Listowel Wingham Hospitals Alliance Karl Ellis issued a statement this morning, saying all staff, outpatients, and visitors will still have to wear masks but proof of vaccination for visitors is no longer required.
Ellis says the approach is consistent with that of all hospitals in the South West and they need to keep masking in place to protect vulnerable patients.
"People coming to the emergency department and in hospital are sick and we need to ensure that they remain safe," explained Ellis. "We also provide services such as our cancer clinic and they are a particularly vulnerable population."
Masks will also make sure the hospital can keep running.
"We need to protect our staff," said Ellis. "There are shortages of health human resources throughout the system and one of the most simple, effective, and low-cost methods to protect our staff is having people wear masks."
Active screening is also going to continue and vaccine requirements for new hires, physicians, volunteers, and contractors will stay in place indefinitely.
The Huron-Perth Healthcare Alliance also confirmed via a release that they, too, will require masks in their hospitals beyond this Saturday.
“Throughout the pandemic, we have been assessing what we feel are appropriate protections for our team and our patients as well as those visiting our hospital sites,” says Andrew Williams, President and CEO. “We have consistently put safety first and will be continuing with universal masking indefinitely. It is the right thing to do, and I know people will support the HPHA in placing their health and the health of our patients, caregivers, family members and team members at the core of all we do."
The HPHA will also continue active screening of all individuals entering its facilities. HPHA’s COVID-19 Immunization Policy requiring all new midwives, physicians, staff, volunteers and contractors to be vaccinated will also remain in place.
The Hanover and District Hospital will also continue masking procedures in their facility. They will also continue to actively screen individuals who enter the hospital, but proof of vaccination will no longer be required.
“In high-risk setting, such as hospitals, we have the duty to protect our patients who are vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus, as well as the staff and physicians that are needed to care for patients. HDH strongly believes that maintaining our masking requirements is a safety precaution that must be upheld indefinitely to safeguard our staff, physicians, and patients,” states Dana Howes, President and Chief Executive Officer.
Mask use will continue in Huron-Perth Public Health clinical services and HPPH public areas. This includes, but is not limited to: -on-site and community COVID-19 vaccination clinics; -on-site and community non-COVID vaccination clinics (e.g. grade 7 and 10 immunizations) -sexual health clinics -oral health clinics -Healthy Babies, Healthy Children visits
HPPH staff will be masked, and they ask everyone who attends to wear a mask. Masks will be available for use.
Everyone is asked to continue to be respectful to hospital staff.
