Masking rules return to Brampton Civic Hospital and Peel Memorial Centre after Thanksgiving

Visitors, patients and staff at Brampton Civic Hospital and the Peel Memorial Centre will once again need to mask up to help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses like COVID-19 as cases are on the rise.

The William Osler Health System made the announcement on Thursday evening that anyone attending its facilities in Brampton will be required to wear a hospital-issued mask in all patient-facing areas as of Tuesday (Oct. 10).

Osler says it is reinstating mask requirements “to protect everyone who enters its sites against respiratory illnesses such as Influenza, COVID-19 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)” in response to an increase in cases and will have masks available on-site.

“As a health care system caring for some of the most vulnerable in our communities, Osler is a mask-friendly organization and masks continue to be available throughout its facilities,” the health system said in a statement.

Once the masking requirements come into place all staff, physicians, volunteers, learners, patients, visitors, Essential Care Partners, contractors and vendors will be required to wear a hospital-issued mask in all patient-facing areas when in direct contact with patients, including inpatient and outpatient areas, and all outpatient waiting rooms, emergency departments and the urgent care centre.

Osler says masking will also be encouraged in all other non-clinical and public areas, like hallways, cafeterias and break rooms, elevators and nursing stations.

Several hospitals and health systems in Ontario have continued or reinstated masking in patient-care areas as the number of respiratory illnesses cases are expected to spike in the fall months.

The health system says that its masking requirements “will be subject to ongoing evaluation for the protection of Osler’s patients, visitors, staff, physicians and volunteers, and will be revisited if needed.”

For more information on the masking requirements for Brampton Civic Hospital and the Peel Memorial Centre click here.