Commonwealth_ Toronto’s University Health Network (UHN) has announced the reinstatement of masking requirements across its hospitals in preparation for the upcoming respiratory virus season. Starting October 28, patients, visitors, and staff will be required to wear masks while waiting for care, receiving treatment, and in designated high-risk areas. This decision comes as a response to the rise in respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, flu, and other seasonal viruses, and aims to protect both the vulnerable populations and healthcare workers within the network.
In an update on its website, UHN emphasized the importance of closely monitoring the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses to ensure that its policies are adaptive and responsive to the current health landscape. “We closely monitor COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses and will adjust our policy if needed,” the hospital network stated.
The UHN, which is one of Canada’s largest health care and research organizations, operates several prominent facilities, including the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, and Toronto Western Hospital. These institutions provide critical care to some of the city’s most at-risk populations, making it essential for UHN to implement preventive measures during times of heightened viral transmission.
While masks will be mandatory in care settings and high-risk areas, the UHN update clarified that masking will remain optional in certain low-risk locations such as food courts, lobbies, and other common areas. This approach allows for a more flexible masking policy in spaces where the risk of transmission is lower, while still maintaining strict protocols in patient care environments.
To facilitate compliance, UHN has made it easy for patients and visitors to access UHN-approved medical masks. Masks will be available for pick-up at all hospital entrances, outpatient clinics, and inpatient units. In a move to further enhance safety, anyone arriving at UHN wearing a cloth face covering or a disposable mask will be asked to switch to a medical mask, which provides a higher level of protection. However, individuals wearing N95 or KN95 masks, which also meet medical standards, will be allowed to continue wearing them.
UHN is also implementing additional precautions for patients who are in isolation or for units experiencing outbreaks. These “extra precautions and limits” aim to further contain the spread of viruses and ensure that these vulnerable groups are safeguarded.
The decision to reinstate mask mandates coincides with Public Health Ontario’s recent report on respiratory virus activity. Between October 6 and October 12, the public health agency reported 94 COVID-19 outbreaks across the province and four deaths related to the virus. In addition to COVID-19, flu season has also begun, with 18 cases of influenza reported in the same period. The dual threat of COVID-19 and influenza has prompted health officials to take proactive measures in the hopes of preventing severe outbreaks.
Further complicating the situation is the emergence of a new COVID-19 variant in Canada. According to Health Canada, a subvariant of Omicron, called XEC, is on the rise. First identified in Germany in June, XEC accounted for approximately 12.9 percent of COVID-19 cases nationwide earlier this month. As the new variant spreads, healthcare systems are bracing for potential surges in cases, especially in the upcoming colder months when respiratory viruses tend to circulate more widely.
