Masks to be mandatory at all N.S. hospitals starting July 21

People will have to wear masks when visiting the province's hospitals and health-care facilities starting Tuesday, the Nova Scotia Health Authority and IWK announced Friday.

Almost all patients, staff and visitors will be required to wear non-medical masks when entering hospitals or health-care facilities. 

"Requiring people to wear masks adds another layer of protection that will help reduce transmission of COVID-19 and is consistent with evolving evidence and advice from public health experts," Nova Scotia Health Authority president and CEO Dr. Brendan Carr said in a news release.

Children under the age of two won't have to wear a mask, and neither will hospital in-patients or staff working in non-clinical areas. Those staff will have to wear a mask until they get to their work station.

IWK CEO Krista Jangaard said it's a change in how they deal with COVID-19. 

"As we plan for a potential second wave, we want to ensure a consistent approach across all hospitals and health centres in the province," she said.

The IWK will continue to screen people when they arrive and anyone with COVID-19 symptoms or who is in a period of self-isolation won't be let in.

Change in policy

This move is a reversal from the health authority's position exactly one month ago.

On June 17, the Nova Scotia Health Authority defended their policy of only suggesting, rather than mandating, that visitors wear masks.

Lisa Barrett is an infectious diseases doctor and clinical scientist with the Nova Scotia Health Authority.

She said people can expect the best practices to change as people deal with a novel pandemic. She said physical distancing and frequent handwashing remain the most effective way to stop COVID-19.

"Masks are a backup," she said Friday.

Barrett said as we open up more, more people are going out, meaning physical distancing is often not possible. 

"It would probably be a good idea to add layers of protection to prevent transmission, and that's exactly what a mask is," she said. 

She said everyone should wear one, other than children under two and a very small group of people with medical reasons. "The list is pretty short," she said.

Physical distancing, handwashing remain key

"We're hoping Nova Scotians will look for reasons to wear the mask, and not to not wear the mask."

Barrett said more places could start requiring masks.

"The big thing that would be unfortunate would be is if people start to forget about the social distancing and the handwashing."

The defence offered by a mask fails if you don't wash your hands or get too close to too many people, she said.

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