Page 6 of 6: Masking changes at Unity Health effective June 27, 2023

COVID-19 is now at a low to moderate community transmission.  Based on provincial and local guidance, and in conjunction with other Toronto region hospitals, we are updating our guidance on staff, physician, volunteer, visitor and patient masking requirements at Unity Health. On Tuesday, June 27, 2023 the following changes at Unity Health will come into effect after consultation with our Infection, Prevention and Control (IPAC) and Workplace Health, Safety and Wellness teams.

Note: These changes do NOT apply to The Houses of Providence (HOP). Long-term care home specific guidelines will be updated separately.

Masking is now optional in the following spaces:

• All public inpatient and outpatient areas such as lobbies, elevators and cafeterias EXCEPT patient waiting rooms
• Inpatient and outpatient clinical areas that are off limits to patients, including nursing stations.
• Hallways in most clinical areas as long as the time spent in the hallway is limited (e.g. walking through the hallway to get somewhere else) or will not involve patient care or close or prolonged patient contact (e.g. sitting at a workstation in the hallway)

A mask must be worn inside Unity Health sites everywhere patients spend prolonged periods or receive care including:

• Waiting rooms
• Patient, procedure or exam rooms, imaging suites and other rooms where patient care is provided (Note: inpatients are not required to wear a mask in their room)
• When providing care to a patient regardless of the area, or when having a non-transient interaction with a patient (e.g. porter moving a patient between units, walking a patient in a stairwell, staff having a prolonged conversation with a patient in the hallway)
• In hallways or common spaces within open concept units (e.g. open concept dialysis pods, ICUs, ED areas or medical day units)
• Any hallways that also function as waiting rooms or hallways where patients spend prolonged periods or receive care

These guidelines apply to all staff, physicians, volunteers, visitors and patients. Unity Health will remain a mask-friendly space and all are welcome to continue masking in all areas. Masks will continue to be supplied by Unity Health at all facility entrances and will also be available in clinical areas.

Masking requirements are subject to change depending on virus activity in the hospital and community, and it may be necessary to bring back mask requirements if COVID-19 transmission within Unity Health increases (e.g. if there is a major fall or winter wave). Updates will become available as needed.

Resources to communicate this change:

• A printable posterto display in hospital units
• A letterfor inpatients
• A scriptdetailing masking information

Information about the new masking rules will be available on Unity Health’s website and updated posters will be posted at hospital entrances. If you have further questions, please contact the Infection, Prevention and Control team for your unit.