The province is mandating that all healthcare staff working in hospitals, provincial care homes, and other healthcare facilities will have to start masking up again when dealing directly with patients, residents, and clients.
Manitoba Health says the mandate goes into effect as of tomorrow and also includes home care workers and other staff providing care services operated by regional health authorities.
Masks will continue to be optional but recommended for visitors to healthcare sites, while other community-based health settings, such as doctors’ offices or supportive housing, will continue to be able to decide how and when masks may be used based on the needs of their clients, patients, and staff.
The government says this approach will help reduce the risk of spreading a respiratory virus from a health-care worker to a vulnerable patient, resident, or client, particularly those who are more at risk of severe illness.
