Horizon Reinstates Hospital Mask Rules in Anticipation of COVID Surge

Horizon Reinstates Hospital Mask Rules in Anticipation of COVID Surge In a move that has people saying, “Well, here we go again,” Horizon Health Network is dusting off its mask collection. Why? Because they’ve got that gut feeling that COVID-19 and its respiratory buddies might be planning a comeback tour.

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Mask Mandate Returns: Horizon’s Decision to Reinstate Mask Rules

As of Wednesday, Horizon wants you to play dress-up by wearing medical-grade face masks. It’s not a fashion statement; it’s a safety statement, folks. But don’t worry, they’re not asking you to wear them while watching TV in your living room (unless, of course, you want to). You’ll only need to mask up if you find yourself in the hospital’s inner sanctum.

Who’s in the mask club? Well, it’s a long list: doctors, nurses, volunteers, patients, friendly visitors, and those all-important designated support persons. They’re like the superheroes of the hospital, but with cooler accessories.

Who Needs to Mask Up: Details on the People Affected by the Rule

So, where’s the mask party happening? Think inpatient units, emergency departments, ambulatory care spots, outpatient services, waiting rooms, and all the clinical settings where medical miracles happen. But don’t worry, you can leave the mask at home when you’re sipping your latte in the lobby or nibbling on a cafeteria sandwich. But hey, if you’re a rebel who wants to wear one in public areas, they’ve got your back. Masks for all!

Hospital Units and Masking: Where Masks are Required within the Hospitals

Now, you might be wondering, “Hey, Horizon, do you have any outbreak units right now?” Well, they’re playing it coy. They didn’t spill the beans in their news release. But rumor has it, Moncton Hospital had a bit of a get-together with outbreaks in seven units, including family practice-palliative care, general surgery, cardiology, family practice-stroke, geriatrics rehabilitation, orthopedics, and neuroscience. Saint John might also have a few secrets, but the dashboard won’t tell.

And if you’re curious about the inspiration behind this mask revival, it’s New Brunswick Public Health’s report of four new COVID-19 deaths between Sep 3 and Sep 16. Other provinces are in on the mask trend too. British Columbia did it last month, saying, “Masks are back, baby!”

Horizon says wearing a medical-grade mask is like a superhero cape—it reduces the risk of virus transmission. But beware, social visitors, you’re not invited to this party. If there’s an outbreak, you’re outta luck. Designated support persons are welcome, but they’re the masked vigilantes of the outbreak units.

So there you have it, folks. Mask up, stay safe, and remember, even though it feels like we’re stuck in a never-ending sequel, at least we’ve got our masks and a dash of humor to get us through it.