Easing of rules surrounding the wearing of masks

Vitalité Health Network - Tuesday, April 4, 2023 – After more than three years in a pandemic, it is finally time for Vitalité Health Network to ease the mask requirement in its facilities.

Several indicators from Prevention and Infection Control have been taken into account to inform our decision to lift the mandatory mask requirement in all circumstances.

The decrease in COVID-19 hospitalizations, the decrease in the 7-day average positivity rate and the decrease in the number of positive employees, combined with a considerable decrease in the number of outbreaks and nosocomial cases across Network health care facilities, have been observed.

The mandatory mask requirement in all circumstances could be reinstated at any time if there is an increase in cases in the community or in our hospitals. It could also come back during respiratory illness season.

Exceptions

Please note that there are exceptions to the new directive. Our goal is to protect you and limit the spread of respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Wearing a mask remains mandatory:

  • In direct patient care settings for hospitalized patients;
  • Upon entering oncology units, the Dr. Léon-Richard Oncology Center and the Mgr-Henri-Cormier Lodge;
  • For staff, volunteers, and patients with respiratory symptoms;
  • In emergency departments, staff will be required to wear masks when providing care to patients, including both admitted and non-admitted patients.

If you are a patient

Screeners at the entrance doors will ask you if you have respiratory symptoms, then ask you to wear a mask if you do.

Mask-wearing is strongly encouraged for all hospitalized individuals who are moving around hospital corridors, and we ask you, as well as all employees, to observe appropriate infection prevention and control measures to ensure everyone's safety.

If you are a visitor or designated support person

Visitors and/or designated support persons (DSPs) will be provided with a mask upon entry and must wear it while in proximity to hospitalized patients.

Visitors and/or DSPs who report respiratory symptoms will be asked to refrain from entering the facility.

If you are an employee

Here are the units and facilities where staff will not be required to wear a mask in the presence of patients:

  • For the entire Network: In outpatient clinics, only with patients who are not hospitalized. This includes dialysis services.
  • For the entire Network: In psychiatry and child psychiatry units, in mental health and addiction treatment centers, and in the offices of the Public Health · Acadie-Bathurst Zone: Section 4 West of the Chaleur Regional Hospital and the Medicine Unit of the Lamèque Hospital and CHC;and Children and Youth teams;
  • Acadie-Bathurst Zone: 4-West unit of the Chaleur Regional Hospital and the Medicine Unit of the Lamèque Hospital and CHC;
  • Beauséjour Zone: Veterans’ Health Centre, geriatric units (3E and 3A) of the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont UHC;
  • Restigouche Zone: Restigouche Hospital Centre, Veterans’ Unit, and Transition Unit of the Campbellton Regional Hospital.

Let's remain vigilant

We remind you that COVID-19 is still present, and it is important to follow the guidelines and recommendations in place.

We ask you to use your judgment and wear a mask if you have symptoms or have been in contact with a positive case in order to protect the most vulnerable people.

Finally, we invite you to continue to follow other prevention measures, such as frequent hand washing and physical distancing. These measures remain important to limit the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections.

We will remain vigilant, and in case of an increase in respiratory virus activity, we will reassess health measures to protect everyone's health. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and inform you of any significant change.

We thank you for your collaboration: together we will continue to ensure a healthy environment for everyone.