Horizon removes continuous masking requirement

(HORIZON) – Effective today, the continuous use of face masks will no longer be required in Horizon hospitals and health care facilities, with a few exceptions.

The exceptions are:

• Oncology units or clinics.  Oncology patients are not required to wear a mask while in their room or treatment chair, but masking is recommended when they are within two (2) metres of another person.
• Outpatients with symptoms of COVID-19 or a respiratory illness and/or who have had close contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19 in the last seven (7) days must continue to wear a medical grade face mask.
• The continuous use of medical grade face masks will be required on outbreak units.

Prior to entering Horizon facilities patients, DSPs and social visitors are still required to self-screen for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses.

• Patients who fail screening are advised to go directly to their appointment and inform staff that they have failed screening.
• DSPs who fail screening are advised not to enter and contact the nursing unit for further direction.
• Social visitors who fail screening are not to enter the facility.

Wearing a mask remains optional in most settings across Horizon and medical grade face masks will be available for patients, social visitors, DSPs and health care workers who choose to wear one.

If a patient chooses to wear a face mask, health care workers will support the patient’s decision and will wear a medical grade face mask while providing patient care.

Continuous masking requirements may be reinstated based on COVID-19 and/or respiratory viral season activity.

Active screening will remain in place in all Horizon Emergency Departments and Urgent Care Centres

This process is in place to help protect our patients, staff and physicians, DSPs and social visitors. Please do your part to help protect our patients and health care workers safe by answering questions honestly and respectfully.

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