Due to updated federal and provincial guidance related to the importance of masking indoors, issued in response to an autumn surge in respiratory illnesses, the County of Essex is again implementing a masking policy in its facilities.
Effective 8 a.m. Tuesday, medical grade surgical masks will be required in County of Essex facilities. This applies to all staff, as well as members of the public visiting County of Essex facilities. Medical grade surgical masks will be available at building entrances.
The facilities covered by the masking policy include the Civic Centre, county road maintenance buildings, Essex County Library branches, Essex-Windsor EMS stations and Sun Parlor Home, where masking requirements have remained in place since early in the COVID-19 pandemic. Essex-Windsor EMS paramedics have also continued to mask during all interactions with patients.
Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, urged Canadians last week to wear masks indoors and continue following other health precautions, like maintaining good hand hygiene, amid a rise in respiratory infections that are straining hospital systems across the country. Tam urged Canadians to get their flu shots and to stay up to date on their COVID-19 boosters.
Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, said Monday he is “strongly recommending” that Ontarians wear masks indoors to ease the burden on a health-care system that is facing “extraordinary pressures.” His recommendation comes as pediatric units across the province deal with an unprecedented surge of children with respiratory illnesses.