Changes to Masking Policy

August 1, 2023 – SAH, including all offsite programs, will remain mask-friendly. Masks will continue to be available at entrances to the building(s) and clinical areas for anyone that prefers to wear one.

Visitors/essential caregivers may still be required to wear a mask when additional occupational health or infection prevention and control measures are in place. It is recommended that you continue to wear a mask in the following situations:

• In care settings, when meeting or speaking directly with staff or physicians, especially in our Emergency Department, the Algoma District Cancer Program, clinical waiting rooms, and outpatient clinics
• If you are a patient experiencing a fever or respiratory symptoms

We are committed to keeping patients safe. Our team members will continue to wear masks whenever they are directly interacting with patients. You will still see plexiglass barriers in most areas. Our team will continue other infection prevention practices – such as assessing patients to determine possible infection risk (COVID-19 and other infectious diseases), and wearing clinically appropriate personal protective equipment.

Visitors and Essential Caregivers who feel unwell are asked to postpone visiting loved ones until they are no longer experiencing symptoms.

SAH will continue to monitor circulating viruses and follow public health advice. Our masking policy may be revisited at any time in the future and patients, visitors, and essential caregivers may be asked to resume wearing a mask.