Masks still mandatory for hospital visitors in Oakville, Milton, Halton Hills

Although some staff and patients at hospitals in Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills don’t have to wear a mask, most visitors still do.

Effective today, Friday, April 21, masks are still mandatory in all public and patient care areas at its facilities including Georgetown Hospital, Milton Hospital and Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital.

“We are still seeing COVID-19 cases and respiratory diseases in our hospitals and our communities. To provide the best care and to protect our patients, staff and communities we must keep our public masking requirements in place for the time being,” said Cindy McDonell, senior vice-president, Clinical Operations at Halton Healthcare.

“Keeping our public masking policy in place aligns us with our GTA hospital colleagues and reflects the current assessed risk for COVID infection in our communities.”

As of April 21, 2023, most visitors coming to Halton Healthcare facilities, are still asked to wear a mask at all times, answer standard screening questions and sanitize their hands.

“We understand you may see different mask policies in other places and in the community. Our priority is the health and safety of everyone,” said McDonell.

“Working with our GTA colleagues, we have assessed the current risk for respiratory illness in our hospitals and communities and will continue to assess and make changes as warranted.”

As part of the phased approach to mask-friendly facilities, staff, physicians and volunteers working where there are no patients are no longer required to wear a mask in their department if it is not required to perform their job. This includes many meeting rooms, breakrooms and shared offices.

“We have a responsibility to keep our facilities as safe as possible for the vulnerable patient populations that we serve, as well as for our staff, physicians and volunteers,” said Jennifer Blue, director of Infection Prevention and Control at Halton Healthcare.

“Throughout the pandemic we’ve looked at changes with a cautious and phased approach and are doing the same here.”

Halton Healthcare said they continue to monitor respiratory illness in their hospitals and communities and will make changes to masking policies as needed.