P.E.I. health authority implementing mandatory masking policy

A blue and white medical mask is pictured.

Anyone visiting a Health PEI facility in Prince Edward Island will soon be required to wear a mask to protect patients, staff and the public from illnesses.

The policy is being implemented due to the ongoing overcapacity issues facing the health-care system, according to a news release from Health PEI.

The universal masking policy will go into effect on Monday.

“This is not a decision we made lightly,” said Melanie Fraser, CEO of Health PEI. “Our emergency departments and acute care units have been straining from overcapacity for weeks, and we’ve yet to see the worst of this respiratory season. We must take all precautions necessary to prevent more people from getting sick.”

The masking policy will be enforced across all Health PEI facilities where care is provided.

The island’s health authority says Health PEI staff have guidelines for when they can remove their masks. Staff will also adhere to current infection control procedures, including:

- proper hand hygiene

- staying home when ill

- reporting any respiratory illness to their manager or supervisor

“Vulnerable populations, such as those living in long-term care, face a higher risk of severe outcomes from respiratory illnesses,” said Marion Dowling, chief nursing, professional practice and quality officer for Health PEI. “Wearing a mask not only protects yourself but also safeguards your loved ones. It’s a shared responsibility that benefits both our individual and collective health.”

Health PEI says it will update the masking policy “as soon as it is safe to do so.”

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