London Health Sciences Centre Revises Its Masking Guidelines

London Health Sciences Centre has readjusted masking guidelines as Londoners approach Fall respiratory virus season.  “Changes to our masking guidelines are aligned with recommendations through Public Health Ontario, and our regional hospital partners, to help ensure staff, physicians, volunteers, patients, visitors and our community remain protected while respiratory viruses circulate this fall and winter,” says Dr. Kevin Chan, Corporate Medical Executive at LHSC. 

The revised guidelines include Patients at LHSC and St. Josephs with a fever or respiratory symptoms will be required to mask in all clinical and non-clinical settings, at LHSC, it is recommended that you wear a mask in all clinical areas and care settings when meeting with or speaking directly to a health care worker, especially in our Emergency Departments, the London Regional Cancer Program, clinical waiting rooms, and Ambulatory Clinics.

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St. Joseph’s Health Care London has also joined the LHSC in revising its masking guidelines. They have recommended all patients and visitors to wear a mask in their waiting rooms, Urgent Care, inpatient and outpatient settings and when in direct contact with a healthcare worker.

“Updated masking guidelines, in combination with other protective measures like staying up to date on vaccinations, is part of our responsive strategy this respiratory season,” adds Dr. Michael Silverman, Chair/Chief, Infectious Diseases in London, and Medical Director, Infection Prevention and Control and the Infectious Diseases Care Program at St. Joseph’s.

There have been revised guidelines for staff working in both organizations too where masking will be required for all direct patient contact in both inpatient and outpatient clinical settings, including waiting rooms and in LHSC’s Emergency Department and St. Joseph’s Urgent Care Centre. Masks are recommended but will not be required in common spaces including team stations, hallways, break spaces, cafeterias, office spaces, auditoriums, communication desks, and/or laboratories for the staff members.