William Osler Health System makes masking mandatory in all patient-facing areas starting Tuesday
Posted October 5, 2023 4:27 pm.
William Osler Health System says starting next Tuesday everyone in its facilities will be required to wear masks in all patient-facing areas, such as emergency departments and urgent care centres.
“In response to increasing cases of respiratory illnesses, all staff, physicians, volunteers, learners, patients, visitors and Essential Care Partners, contractors and vendors will be required to wear a hospital-issued mask in all patient-facing areas when in direct contact with patients,” Osler said in a statement Thursday.
Masking will also be encouraged in all other non-clinical and public areas, such as hallways, cafeterias and break rooms, elevators, as well as nursing stations.
Osler joins a number of Toronto-area hospitals, including Mount Sinai, North York General, Women’s College, St. Joseph’s and St. Michael’s Unity Health, along with hospitals in eastern Ontario, Hamilton and Guelph that are also requiring masks in patient-care areas.
The Public Health Agency of Canada has reported increasing COVID-19 activity since early August while health officials are also expecting cases of flu and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, to climb this fall.
