Health-care workers, patients, visitors and volunteers to provincial health-care facilities must now wear medical masks in areas where patients are “actively receiving care” in a bid to combat rising respiratory illnesses.
The measure is expected to last until spring, when respiratory illnesses are anticipated to abate, sa国际传媒’s Ministry of Health said in a Wednesday statement.
The announcement covers hospitals, long-term care, assisted living, out-patient and ambulatory care services.
Patients and those with them are required to wear a medical mask over their noses and mouths in all emergency departments and waiting rooms.
Visitors to long-term care and seniors’ assisted living centres are expected to wear a medical mask when taking part in indoor group events and gatherings, except when eating and drinking.
However, they do not need to wear a mask when spending time with a single resident in a patient-care area, in multi-bedrooms or in communal areas when visiting directly with one individual resident, the ministry said.
Residents of long-term care and assisted living centres must wear a mask over their noses and mouths when told to do so by a health-care worker when direct patient care is being carried out.
Such temporary measures have been regularly used in health-care settings both pre- and post-pandemic, including last year, the ministry said. “In conjunction with existing infection control practices, they will help curb the spread of respiratory illness this season and keep patients, residents and health-care workers safe.”
The sa国际传媒 Centre for Disease Control reported on Jan. 3 that influenza and RSV — respiratory syncytial virus — numbers were growing, while COVID-19 activity was stable but showing early signs of an increase, based on data from Dec. 22 to Dec. 28.
The proportion of visits due to respiratory illnesses to health-care sites is growing but comparable to the previous season, the centre said.
