The Horizon and Vitalité health networks are dropping their mask mandates effective Monday, with a few exceptions.

• Designated support persons (DSPs) and social visitors will be required to wear a medical-grade face mask when in a patient room in Oncology units or clinics. Oncology patients are not required to wear a mask while in their room or treatment chair, but masking is recommended when they are within two (2) metres of another person.
• 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.
• The continuous use of medical-grade face masks will be required on outbreak units.

Patients, DSPs and social visitors are still required to self-screen for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses.

• Patients who fail screening are advised to go directly to their appointment and inform staff that they have failed screening.
• DSPs who fail to screen are advised not to enter and contact the nursing unit for further direction.
• Social visitors who fail to screen are not to enter the facility.

Mask-wearing is strongly encouraged for all hospitalized individuals, but it will remain optional unless one is required under the exceptions.

Screeners will still be asking at the entrance doors if you have respiratory symptoms, then ask you to wear a mask if you do.

@VitaliteNB is updating the mask requirement in its facilities.

READ THE PRESS RELEASE FOR MORE DETAILS: https://t.co/675LUUmVFE pic.twitter.com/iCtm1pLOTx

— Réseau de santé Vitalité (@VitaliteNB) May 8, 2023