By Times Chronicle Staff
The Ministry of Health has reimplemented its mask mandate for healthcare facilities across BC as the ongoing respiratory season is in full swing.
The latest mandate – which came into effect on Jan. 6 – will apply to all facilities operated by health authorities, sites contracted by a health authority, long-term care and assisted-living facilities, outpatient clinics and ambulatory care settings. This includes all emergency departments and waiting rooms, the ministry said.
“To keep people safe, the Province is strengthening infection control measures in health authority operated facilities and contracted sites to protect people during the respiratory illness season,” the ministry said in a statement.
While mask mandates in medical settings previously have applied to entire facilities this mandate will only apply to areas where patients are actively receiving care.
All healthcare workers, volunteers, contractors, patients and visitors “must wear medical masks in areas where patients are actively receiving care, except when eating and/or drinking,” it said.
The mask mandate will remain in effect “until the risk decreases,” it said noting that the respiratory season typically ends in the spring.
The mask mandate is in response to what the ministry says are rising influenza and RSV infections in the province. It added that COVID-19 numbers are “stable but showing early signs of an increase.”
The proportion of healthcare visits for respiratory illness continues to increase and is comparable to last season according to the BC Centre for Disease Control which provides weekly updates of respiratory virus activity in the province.
The public is advised that it is not too late to get an influenza vaccine along with a COVID-19 booster.
