FORT FRANCES — Riverside Health Care has implemented “enhanced masking measures” at its long-term care facilities.
The move is accompanied by similar policy changes at other long-term care facilities in Ontario, at the direction of the provincial government.
At Rainycrest Long Term Care in Fort Frances and Riverside’s long-term care spaces in Emo and Rainy River, staff, students, support workers and volunteers are required to mask up when in resident areas indoors.
Visitor are encouraged to wear masks when indoors at those facilities, except when with a resident in their room or eating or drinking in a common area. A news release from Riverside said masking will be required in the event of an outbreak.
The North of Superior Healthcare Group, which operates hospitals in Marathon and Terrace Bay, has announced similar policies for staff, patients and visitors at its hospitals and long-term care facilities.
The heightened measures come as winter cold and flu season begins and reflect directions the Ministry of Long-Term Care sent to operators across the province last week.
In April the ministry issued a technical brief on “interim infection prevention and control measures based on respiratory virus transmission risks.” The document recommended enhanced mask policies during periods of high risk for respiratory illnesses.
Since then, regions across Ontario have seen increasing rates of respiratory infections including respiratory syncytial virus and COVID-19.
Noting increases in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations for COVID, the Northwestern Health Unit this week encouraged people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and influenza and mask up for indoor settings.
A facility-wide COVID 19 outbreak since late October at Rainycrest Long Term Care has been declared over.
