Masks will be required in hospital settings ‘for some time’: Ontario Hospital Association

Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) says people can expect to be required to continue to wear masks in hospital settings “for some time,” despite the announcement that the mandate will be lifted in most public spaces across the provinceIn a statement issued Wednesday, OHA president and CEO Anthony Dale said this is a “patient safety measure.”Dale said hospitals in Ontario will be “adopting and implementing certain protective measures, including requirements related to personal protective equipment and health care worker vaccination, into their own health and safety policies and procedures.” Ontario lifts mask mandate in most settings March 21, all directives to drop by April 27 The statement comes after the province announced it would be lifting the COVID-19 mask mandate in many indoor public settings beginning March 21.According to the province, while masking requirements will be removed “in most places” later this month, the mandate will remain in place in some settings, including on public transit, in long-term care facilities in retirement homes and other health-care settings, in congregate care settings, in shelters and in jails.The province’s plan says masking requirements in “all remaining settings” will be removed on April 27.However, the plan released by the Ford government on Wednesday said that as directives are revoked, “individual organizations will continue to have the authority to keep requirements in place.”In the statement Wednesday, Dale said hospitals are “committed to protecting patients, staff and visitors, and ensuring safety is a top priority.”“The hospital sector routinely establishes policies and requirements regarding infection prevention and control, personal protective equipment, and.