After a long haul of several COVID-19 pandemic measures, Sault Area Hospital has announced that effective Aug. 1, masks are no longer required for patients, visitors and essential caregivers.
However, masks are “encouraged especially in our Emergency Department, the Algoma District Cancer Program, clinical waiting rooms, and outpatient clinics,” said Rose Calibani, SAH communications and public affairs officer in an email to SooToday.
Staff, physicians and volunteers are no longer required to wear a mask in public spaces such as the cafeteria, hallways, lobby, waiting rooms, elevators or washrooms.
“They will continue to wear masks and PPE as appropriate when caring for patients. SAH remains a mask friendly site. Masks are still available at the entrances (both at SAH and our offsite locations) for those who choose to wear a mask. Anyone coming to the Emergency Department does not require a COVID-19 test to attend,” Calibani said.
In a social media post, SAH states "Visitors/essential caregivers may still be required to wear a mask when additional occupational health or infection prevention and control measures are in place. It is recommended that you continue to wear a mask in the following situations:
• In care settings, when meeting or speaking directly with staff or physicians, especially in our Emergency Department, the Algoma District Cancer Program, clinical waiting rooms, and outpatient clinics
• If you are a patient experiencing a fever or respiratory symptoms
We are committed to keeping patients safe. Our team members will continue to wear masks whenever they are directly interacting with patients. You will still see plexiglass barriers in most areas. Our team will continue other infection prevention practices - such as assessing patients to determine possible infection risk (COVID-19 and other infectious diseases), and wearing clinically appropriate personal protective equipment.
Visitors and Essential Caregivers who feel unwell are asked to postpone visiting loved ones until they are no longer experiencing symptoms.
SAH will continue to monitor circulating viruses and follow public health advice. Our masking policy may be revisited at any time in the future and patients, visitors, and essential caregivers may be asked to resume wearing a mask," SAH stated.