With increasing COVID cases in the province, and in an effort to minimize the risk of COVID transmission in long-term care facilities, starting Friday, September 10, the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is implementing masks to be mandatory outside of residents’ rooms for family and visitors.
According to a news release, the SHA stated that the masking protocol will apply to both of its long-term care homes and affiliates; and the protocol is for both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals.
While it is not required, the SHA also recommends that family and visitors wear a mask within the resident’s individual room. This will provide additional protection for all residents.
Also, the SHA is “strongly” encouraging residents to where a mask outside of their room, particularly if they are not fully vaccinated, however, this is not a requirement.
Free medical masks are available at the screening stations when entering a long-term care home. Along with wearing a medical mask at all times when outside a resident’s room, family members or visitors must sanitize their hands before and after putting on the mask, and refrain from lowering it to talk, according to SHA’s new protocols.
Those who refuse to comply with masking requirements in common areas may be asked to leave.
To prevent the spread of COVID-19 and its variants in long-term care homes, the SHA will continue to offer rapid COVID testing, while encouraging full vaccination and physical distancing.