Masking at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre

We have seen an increase in respiratory-related illnesses within our Inpatient Clinical Units and respiratory-related visits in our Emergency Department. As part of our commitment to keeping everyone safe, we want to remind you of our current protocols regarding masking in our facilities.

Masking is required by all staff, professional staff, learners, volunteers, and Essential Care Partners/Care Partners (ECPs/CPs) when entering a patient room in all Inpatient Clinical Units and when in the Emergency Department.

Masking for Essential Care Partners/Care Partners is now required:

• 1A Inpatient Units — at all times, including when entering a patient room and when within the 1A Medicine and 1A Acute Oncology clinical areas.
• All Other Inpatient Units — when visiting in an inpatient ‘s room and whenever unable to maintain 6 feet of physical distancing standards within the unit.
• Emergency Department — at all times and all areas, including the waiting areas.

Masks are available at all of our public entrances on the sanitizing stands. Please make use of the hand sanitizer dispensers available throughout the Hospital.

Our Infection Prevention and Control team continuously monitors the need to expand masking requirements based on infection levels, and should masking requirements change, they will be communicated broadly.

Thank you for your cooperation and for helping us keep our community safe.