THUNDER BAY — Some Ontario hospitals are bringing back masking requirements, but the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre will stick to the masking policy it implemented four months ago, at least for now.
The hospital lifted some of its last masking requirements back in May due to a decline in the prevalence of COVID-19.
At the time, hospital officials announced that patients, essential care partners and care partners would no longer have to wear masks when entering the hospital, although masks would continue to be available at all public entrances on sanitizing stands.
Because the respiratory virus season is approaching, and because COVID-19 cases are anticipated to rise, The Ottawa Hospital is among several hospitals that are tightening their masking rules.
As of this week, it requires everyone to wear a mask in all clinical areas and waiting rooms.
A Thunder Bay hospital spokesperson said Wednesday that its infection prevention and control protocols team is constantly monitoring the need to expand masking requirements based on infection levels, "and should masking requirements change, they will be communicated broadly."
Masking currently is not mandatory facility-wide, but is required for staff when administering patient care.
Essential care partners and care partners are also still required to wear a mask when entering the hospital if (1) they are symptomatic, but their presence is essential for a patient, (2) per infection prevention and control protocols in the specific area of the hospital they are in, (3) should the patient's condition warrant it.
According the Thunder Bay District Health Unit's most recent published data, there are three ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks in high-risk settings in the district, and one respiratory outbreak.
Twenty-one individuals with COVID-19 are hospitalized, including one in intensive care.
