Sudbury's Health Sciences North has issued a notice about the type of masks that patients and care partners must wear when visiting any local health care location.
While the notice was issued on the day before Halloween, it deals strictly with masks that are used to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
The statement said that masks with built-in valves or ports are not allowed to be worn by visitors to HSN and they are designed to protect only the person wearing the mask by allowing one's breath to be expelled in larger volumes outside the mask.
"They only protect the wearer from infectious disease and don’t protect those around the wearer. These masks are not approved as appropriate face coverings by public health," said the HSN statement.
The hospital is also requesting care partners to bring their own mask to HSN. If you come to the hospital as a patient or care partner and do not have a mask, one will be provided to you. HSN said in every case you will be expected to wear it during your time at HSN to keep yourself, other patients and care partners and our staff, physicians, learners and volunteers safe.
The hospital has also joined with other health care agencies in reminding city residents this is the Halloween weekend and residents should exercise additional care and caution when dealing with others to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The HSN statement added that a Halloween costume mask is no substitute for a proper infection-inhibiting face mask.
