The Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH), Ontario released a decision that ended the requirement for masking in certain settings effective June 11th, 12am.
Temiskaming Hospital, in keeping with the other hospitals in Ontario, will continue to require masks and other forms of personal protective equipment for people in the hospital facility.
“The hospital is in a unique situation, where both those with COVID and those who are the most vulnerable in our society come to us for care,” explained Hospital President & CEO, Mike Baker, “ and we have an obligation to keep all of our patients, community members, staff and professional staff safe, even given these circumstances.”
The Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) urged that the CMOH continue mandatory masking for patients, caregivers, visitors and other members of the public hospital. Ontario Hospitals continue to follow best practices in infection prevention and infection control as they have done throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We will continue to monitor the situation and adjust our policies according to the risk we are managing, just as we have throughout the pandemic”, concluded Baker, “I would also like to thank those of you who are treating our staff with kindness and respect while we keep your loved ones safe from the harm this pandemic has brought to so many.”