THUNDER BAY — For the first time since May, the largest hospital in Northwestern Ontario is tightening its requirements for masking.
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre announced the changes Tuesday, saying they're the result of an increase in respiratory and influenza-like illnesses, including COVID-19, that's now impacting its inpatient units.
Effective immediately, masking is required in all inpatient clinical units and in the emergency department.
The rule applies to all staff, professional staff, learners, volunteers and essential care partners and care partners.
Requirements are as follows:
- 1A inpatient units (1A medicine and 1A oncology) – care partners must wear a minimum Level 3 procedure mask at all times
- All other inpatient units – care partners must wear a minimum Level 3 procedure mask when entering a patient's room, and whenever they are unable to maintain six feet of distancing within the unit. Masking is not required when outside a patient's room unless care partners are unable to maintain a distance of six feet within a clinical setting
- Emergency department – all patients and care partners accompanying a patient must wear a minimum Level 3 procedure mask at all times
In a brief statement, hospital officials said the infection prevention and control team is constantly monitoring the need to expand masking requirements based on infection levels.
According to updated information published by the Thunder Bay District Health Unit on Tuesday afternoon, there was a COVID-19 outbreak in 1A at the hospital.
It was declared Monday, as was a facility-wide COVID outbreak at the Chartwell Thunder Bay retirement residence on Arundel Street.
New COVID outbreaks were declared Tuesday on 2 North at St. Joseph's Hospital and both 2 South and 2 North at Hogarth Riverview Manor.
Previously-declared ongoing outbreaks include a facility-wide COVID outbreak at Bethammi Nursing Home, outbreaks on 4 South at Hogarth Riverview Manor and 5 North at St. Joseph's Hospital, and a respiratory outbreak on 6 North at Hogarth Riverview Manor.
NOTE: A previous version of this story was updated at 4 pm Sept. 26 to include new data released by TBDHU
