After more than three years of mandatory continuous masking in Alberta hospitals, long-term care facilities, labs, and other health-related government-managed sites, Alberta Health Services (AHS) has rescinded the requirement.
The decision to end masking was announced on June 15, with AHS stating that as of June 19, continuous masking will no longer be required at AHS facilities, including Continuing Care and contracted sites.
Patients, families, visitors, and staff, including doctors, midwives, students, volunteers, and contractors, will no longer be required to wear a mask. This brings an end to one of the last remaining, longest-standing COVID-related restrictions in place in the province.
“The decision to rescind the current requirement for continuous masking was made based on a number of factors, including declining COVID-19 cases, testing positivity rate, wastewater data and hospital admission rates for respiratory illnesses in Alberta,” said AHS….