Masking of staff, physicians, patients and care partners at LHSC will continue to be part of our practice for the foreseeable future.
Wearing a mask is a common method to prevent the spread of COVID-19. All ambulatory patients and visitors are required to wear a mask upon entry to the hospital. Masks will be available at all patient/visitor entrances. You may continue to wear your own, but a hospital provided mask must be placed on top. In addition, inpatients are also required to be masked if they leave their bed space or someone enters their bed space.*
We recognize that some patients may not be able to tolerate wearing a mask due to their health condition. These patients will be exempt. Paediatric patients under five years of age, who cannot tolerate a mask, are also exempt from wearing a mask. Health-care workers are protected from those unable to mask by wearing their own required PPE.
Those who are unfamiliar with wearing a mask will be provided instruction upon screening. A poster and Q&A are available to explain the change and illustrate how to properly wear a mask.
*a patient’s bed space refers to a private patient room or the space enclosed by a curtain in a multi-bed room.
