Masking back at some Horizon hospital facilities in New Brunswick
Horizon Health Network is bringing back masking in certain situations in New Brunswick hospitals.
In a news release Tuesday, Horizon said it was taking precautions to reduce transmissions within hospital facilities as respiratory viruses are expected to increase.
As of Wednesday, a medical-grade face mask will be required in regional hospitals if it has two or more outbreak units. For community hospitals, the masking provision will be in effect if one or more units has an outbreak.
The masking requirement will apply to:
- all staff
- patients
- volunteers
- visitors
- designated support persons
Masking will not be required in public areas such as lobbies or cafeterias, but there will be masks available for anyone who wants to wear one.
Horizon requires patients, visitors and designated support persons to self-screen for symptoms of COVID-19 before entering a facility.
“Social visitors are not permitted to visit patients in a Horizon hospital or any long-term care patient care unit that has a respiratory virus outbreak,” according to the news release.
Continuous masking will be required on outbreak units for health care workers and designated support persons.
On Tuesday, Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health, said masking requirements are the responsibility of the health authority. However, Dr. Strang did say he expects a decision on masking in hospitals to made as early as this week.
For more New Brunswick news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Air turbulence: When can it become dangerous?
Flight turbulence like that encountered by a Singapore Airlines flight on Tuesday is extremely common, but there's one aspect of severe turbulence an aviation expert says can lead to serious injury.
B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton hospitalized after prison attack
British Columbia serial killer Robert Pickton was attacked and sustained life-threatening injuries in a Quebec prison Sunday in what officials described as a 'major assault.'
'Mr. Trump doesn't worry us', says Canadian ambassador
As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau continues the 'Team Canada' charm offensive to U.S. lawmakers and business leaders, Canada's ambassador to the United States downplayed the effect of another Trump presidency on Canada.
WATCH Why today's inflation numbers are good if you have a mortgage
New inflation data is 'welcome news' for consumers and an economist says it could signal the possibility for a interest rate cut as several core measures also continue to ease.
'Miscommunication' Liberals say of Speaker Fergus event invite Conservatives call partisan
House of Commons Speaker Greg Fergus is facing fresh Conservative-led calls to resign, this time over "very partisan" and 'inflammatory' language used – the Liberals say mistakenly – to promote an upcoming event.
Toronto Blue Jays fan struck by 110 m.p.h foul ball offered tickets, signed baseball by team
The Toronto Blue Jays have offered tickets and a signed baseball to a fan who says she was struck in the face by a 110 m.p.h (177 km/h) foul ball at Friday’s game.
OPP continues to investigate boat collision north of Kingston, Ont. that left 3 people dead
Ontario Provincial Police continue to investigate a long weekend fatal boat collision on Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont.
opinion Tom Mulcair: With Trudeau spiralling, Mark Carney waits in the wings
In his latest column for CTVNews.ca, former NDP leader Tom Mulcair argues that if there's an unofficial frontrunner in the eventual race to replace Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader, it has to be former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney.
Loblaw boycott organizers say they plan to keep movement going past May
The organizers of a month-long boycott of Loblaw-owned stores say they've decided to extend the boycott past May.