SHA says masks will still be required in hospitals, clinics after Sunday

Changes may be coming to COVID-19 protocols in Saskatchewan on Sunday, but things won’t be changing in many Saskatchewan Health Authority facilities.

The SHA announced Thursday that masking, screening and family presence directives will remain in place in its facilities — except long-term care homes — even as public health orders are lifted Sunday as part of Step Three of the Re-Opening Roadmap.

“Transmission of COVID-19 and its variants, like the Delta variant, will continue to pose a risk throughout the province and therefore to the health and safety of staff, physicians, patients, residents, family and visitors in Saskatchewan Health Authority facilities,” the authority said in a release.

People who enter SHA facilities will have to wear a medical-grade mask during their stay in all hospitals, vaccine clinics, out-patient clinics and so on. Patients can remove their masks when they’re in their own room.

All staff members in SHA facilities, those who are performing any SHA service such as home care or those who are working in long-term care homes will still have to wear masks.

Level 1 family presence guidelines will remain in place. Patients can designate two essential family members/supports who can both visit the patient, but only one person can visit at a time.

Other people can be designated for intensive care and palliative care. Two people can be present at one time for intensive care, palliative care and maternal/children’s units.

In SHA-operated long-term care homes, residents, family members and visitors won’t have to wear masks and there isn’t a limit on the number of visitors per patients.

“However, visitors are encouraged to wear a mask while visiting, particularly if the resident or visitor is not fully vaccinated or physical distance cannot be maintained,” the SHA said.

The authority said the protocols will be regularly reviewed.