Health P.E.I. has communicated the return of a mandatory masking policy in all of its facilities, starting Tuesday, Oct. 14. Respiratory illnesses are increasing on the Island, and with the fall season upon us, those numbers continue to climb. This decision goes a long way to counter that troubling trend. American Hospital Association The organization’s goal is to keep patients and health care workers safe by adopting this precautionary step.
Under the new policy, all staff are mandated to wear masks when within six feet of others and during any form of direct patient care. Masks will be provided across all entrances of Health P.E.I. facilities. This will make them easy for visitors and staff alike to find and use. Lara MacMurdo, the director of occupational health, safety and wellness at Health P.E.I., called this foundation “essential.”
“Masks are known to be one of those easy measures that we can implement to ensure the safety and the health of our health-care workforce and our overall health-care system,” – Lara MacMurdo.
As respiratory illnesses typically rise during this time of year, Health P.E.I. is taking proactive steps to mitigate potential risks. The organization has reported an increased occurrence of these diseases across the Island, calling for more sensitivity to the issue.
MacMurdo remarked on the ongoing nature of respiratory illness trends, stating, “It’s just one of those things that we can expect to see year over year… Masking is that new reality.” Health P.E.I. wants to ensure that everyone remains safe, and feel safe, while receiving care in its facilities. They recently reversed course and reinstated the masking requirement.
This new requirement now extends to all health care facilities operated under Health P.E.I. It ensures consistency in what is expected from all patients, staff and visitors. MacMurdo further highlighted the inevitability of such measures saying, “It’s not a matter of if we’re going to mask, it’s a matter of when we’re going to mask.”
