Norfolk General Hospital removes continuous masking requirement

(Tuesday, May 16, 2023) – Due to the continued decline of COVID-19 incidents locally and regionally, universal masking will no longer be required at Norfolk General Hospital (NGH), effective Wednesday, May 17, 2023. However, masking will still be required in the following scenarios:

Masking required for/when:

• Patients who are symptomatic or isolated for respiratory illness, and their visitors will be required to wear a mask within patient care areas and hallways.

• Outpatients with symptoms of COVID-19 or a respiratory illness and/or who have had close contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19 in the last seven (7) days must continue to wear a medical grade face mask.
• Visitors may be required to wear a mask in outbreak units.

While NGH is a mask friendly environment, medical grade face masks will remain available for patients, visitors, and health care workers who choose to wear one.

If a patient chooses to wear a face mask, health care workers will support the patient’s decision and will wear a medical grade face mask while providing patient care.

Prior to entering NGH, patients, and visitors are still required to self-screen for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses.

This process is in place to help protect our patients, staff and physicians, and visitors. Please do your part to help protect our patients and health care workers safe by answering questions honestly and respectfully.

Continuous masking requirements may be reinstated based on COVID-19 and/or respiratory viral season activity.

All decisions will continue to be based on provincial guidance/direction and informed by subject matter experts.