There are more faces visible at Guelph General Hospital (GGH) as of Wednesday. That’s when masking requirements were stepped back.
No longer are staff, patients, families, caregivers and volunteers required to wear face masks, though they will be encouraged to do so.
A mask mandate was put in place early in the pandemic. It’s something hospitals throughout Ontario have been downgrading at various paces as of late.
“Please be assured that we continue to take every precaution necessary to ensure you feel safe, respected and supported in our care,” states a GGH news release. “We want to ensure that you feel comfortable receiving care at Guelph General Hospital. If you request that a member of our care team wear a mask while interacting with you, we will place one on.”
There will be “unique situations,” as determined by hospital staff, where masks will still be required. This includes when a patient is in isolation, under additional precautions or presenting at the emergency department with a respiratory illness and is waiting for care.
“We will inform you if a mask is required,” the release notes.
Masking stations will remain in place at hospital entrances and nursing stations for anyone who prefers to wear one. Collection bins will also remain throughout the hospital for mask disposal.
“Entering into this next phase will feel different for everyone, just as the first phase did,” the release adds. “It is important that we continue to respect each other’s choices.”
