Last Updated: October 26, 2023
AHS has adopted an enhanced masking directive to help prevent transmission of COVID-19 within our acute care facilities, emergency departments, urgent care centres and advanced ambulatory care centres. This directive supports zone and site leadership to determine if enhanced masking for staff, physicians, midwives, students, volunteers, and contracted providers is necessary, and can include patient care areas, elevators/staircases/hallways, common areas, gift shops, and cafeterias where patient contact could occur in acute care facilities.
Decisions to implement will be based on several factors which consider number, size and impact of outbreaks, new hospitalizations with COVID-19, occupancy, test positivity, and situational context.
The Use of Masks to Prevent Transmission of COVID-19 Directive came into effect on Oct. 11, 2023.
Updates: Read the full news release and latest updates.
Where the enhanced masking is implemented, masking will be required for patients, designated support persons and visitors in Emergency Departments in acute care facilities. Public can watch for signage at front entrances to determine where enhanced masking has been implemented.
Where the enhanced masking is implemented, masking will be required for patients, designated support persons and visitors in Emergency Departments in acute care facilities, emergency departments, urgent care centres and advanced ambulatory care centres.
In addition, sites may also require staff, patients, designated support persons and visitors to mask in additional areas (e.g. cancer units). Signage will be posted in areas at sites where this is required.
Masking for visitors or designated family support persons is optional for sites that are not within Emergency Departments in acute care facilities.
AHS strongly encourages all visitors or designated family support persons attending any of our facilities to mask, stay home when ill, and continue to practice diligent hand hygiene as part of our ongoing efforts to keep patients, families and each other safe and healthy.
We encourage visitors or designated family support persons who have had COVID-19 or other respiratory symptoms to wait to visit loved ones until 10 days after symptom onset.
Access information for Health Professionals including site memos and signage. AHS credentials are required.
