Visitors at long-term care homes in Saskatchewan will be required to wear masks in common areas, as of Friday, Sept. 10.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is making masks mandatory outside of residents’ rooms for families and visitors. This masking protocol will apply to both SHA long-term care homes and affiliates. It applies to both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals.
The SHA is making this decision due to rising COVID-19 cases in the province, in an effort to minimize the risk of COVID transmission.
Family members or visitors must:
- wear a medical mask at all times when outside a resident’s room;
- wear the mask so it fully covers their nose, mouth and chin;
- perform hand hygiene before and after you put on your mask; and
- keep your mask on at all times, and refrain from lowering it to talk.
Anyone who refuses to comply with masking requirements in common areas may be asked to leave the facility.
Masks are not required within a resident’s individual room, although the SHA strongly recommends that family and visitors do wear a mask.
Residents are not required but are strongly encouraged to wear a mask outside of their room, particularly if the resident is not fully vaccinated.
Free medical masks will be available at the screening stations when entering a long-term care home.
