Mask mandates in settings deemed high risk are set to expire in Ontario, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance officials say.
Earlier this spring, the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health (OCMOH) announced a directive to maintain existing masking requirements in select higher-risk indoor settings such as hospitals until June 11, 2022.
“With the OCMOH directive set to expire, it is up to hospitals on whether masking policies will remain in place past June 11, 2022,” hospital officials said in a media release.
“Despite experiencing lower community levels of COVID-19, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) will not be changing its masking policies and procedures for the foreseeable future, which apply to all visitors, patients (as tolerated), and all staff, physicians and volunteers regardless of what area they work in.”
Hospital officials added: “This also takes into consideration the higher risk environment in which CKHA operates with many elderly and immune compromised patients.”
After June 11, 2022, CKHA’s masking policy will remain in place; this means everyone who enters CKHA’s hospital sites will still be required to wear a medical grade mask.
This is consistent with recent guidance issued by Public Health Ontario, hospital officials added.
