Dr. Gerald Evans, Medical Director, Infection Prevention and Control says this decision was guided by multiple sources including analysis of provincial and regional COVID-19 data which are all now at levels that suggest a higher potential for transmission
Credit
Matthew Manor/KHSC
Effective today, mandatory masking is required on all KHSC clinical inpatient units.
“This decision was guided by multiple sources including analysis of provincial and regional COVID-19 data which are all now at levels that suggest a higher potential for transmission of COVID-19 in health care settings,” says Dr. Gerald Evans, Medical Director, Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC). “In southeastern Ontario, after falling to one per cent during the early and mid-summer, test positivity is now over 10 per cent, outbreak numbers, which for many months were in the single digits, are now at 15, and wastewater detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the southeast has shown rises particularly in KFLA.
“There is some evidence that we may be at a peak now and we are hopeful this will be a short-term return to masking. Test positivity, wastewater detection and outbreaks in congregate setting levels are high but now showing some stability and other countries including the U.S. are predicting a peak or reporting early post-peak levels of COVID-19. We understand this is a challenging decision, however, we must ensure a safe environment for every person who comes here to receive care, work, volunteer, or learn.”
There has been an increase in the number of staff who have high-risk exposure to COVID-19 positive patients on inpatient units, some of whom have subsequently developed COVID-19. “Mandatory masking will reduce the number of COVID-19 transmissions, high-risk exposures, and the need for workplace isolation for staff when COVID-19 prevalence is high,” said Natasha Salt, IPAC Director.
Masking is now mandatory in
- All inpatient areas
- Emergency Department
- Children’s Outpatient Clinic, and
- Urgent Care Centre
