Masking Update for Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre
by Communications and Engagement
As the level of viral respiratory activity increases within our communities, and to reduce further impacts on our care services, we will be stepping up our masking requirements effective Monday, October 28, 2024. We continue to see an increase in the number of respiratory-related illnesses within our Inpatient Clinical Units and respiratory-related visits in our Emergency Department. As the level of viral respiratory activity increases within our communities, and to reduce further impacts on our care services, we will be stepping up our masking requirements effective Monday, October 28, 2024.
As of October 28, masking will be required by all staff, professional staff, learners, volunteers and Essential Care Partners/Care Partners (ECPs/CPs) when entering a patient room for 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 (IPAC) team continuously monitors the need to expand masking requirements based on infection levels and should masking requirements change, they will be communicated broadly.
