New Brunswick’s Horizon Health is bringing back mask mandates

Horizon Health will require people visiting New Brunswick facilities to wear face masks.

Starting Wednesday, anyone entering a Horizon Health Network facility in New Brunswick will be required to wear a mask in certain areas.

The health network made the announcement Tuesday and attributed the decision to a rise in respiratory virus activity across the province. The trend, combined with an expected uptick in overall cold and flu cases, is the reason behind the call to bring back masks for the time being.

“We typically see more respiratory viruses as we transition from summer into fall. We encourage our patients to follow Public Health’s vaccination advice and look forward to the department sharing the details of this year’s respiratory vaccine campaign in the coming weeks,” said Executive Director of the New Brunswick Pharmacists’ Association Anne Marie Picone.

Masks will be required to be worn by patients, health-care staff, visitors and designated support persons (DSPs) in all patient-facing/clinical areas.

“This means a medical grade face mask must be worn at all times in all inpatient units, outpatient/ambulatory care clinics and emergency departments and any other clinical setting, including waiting areas,” reads a news release from Horizon Health.

“Masking will not be required in non-clinical areas, such as lobbies, hallways, or cafeterias however, medical grade face masks remain available in all Horizon facilities to anyone wishing to wear one at any time.”

Additional signage will be in place at Horizon facilities to help people understand where masks are and are not required.

The health network touts measures already in place to help reduce the spread of illness within its buildings, which includes self-screening by staff and patients for any illness symptoms.

The use of masks continues to be required for any health-care worker and DSPs on outbreak units. Social visitors are not permitted to visit units experiencing an outbreak.

Horizon says there are currently COVID-19 outbreaks in the chronic care unit at the Moncton Hospital, the transitional care unit at the Saint John Regional Hospital and a surgical unit at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital in Fredericton.

“We also know the risk of respiratory virus transmission typically begins to increase this time of year, and we’re taking early action to help protect our most vulnerable patients, as well as our physicians and staff,” said Dr. Susan Brien, senior vice president of medical, academic and research affairs.

The health network did not say in the news release how long the mask mandate will remain in place.

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