For the latest and up-to-date information on masking guidelines at CHEO, visit our face masks at CHEO page.
Masks work. They help prevent the spread of illness. And that matters at CHEO because we care for children who are extremely vulnerable to illnesses like flu, RSV and COVID-19.
Following careful consideration and consultation, CHEO is implementing new masking guidelines. Effective Thursday, June 1, 2023, CHEO will have two masking zones clearly identified throughout all CHEO locations:
- Mandatory: Masking will be mandatory in clinical and waiting areas
- Recommended: Masking will be recommended in all other areas of the CHEO
These signs will mark when you are entering and exiting each zone:
What is changing
Effective today, masks are recommended but no longer required in public areas and non-clinical areas, such as hallways, elevators, cafeterias and coffee shops. This applies to children, youth, families, visitors, staff and medical staff. This is a low-risk step that provides people with more flexibility and helps us recover as a community.
What is not changing
Children (when appropriate), youth, families, staff and medical staff will continue to always wear masks when engaged in clinical care, including clinics, inpatient units, treatment spaces and waiting areas.
Why change?
This decision was not made lightly, given the importance we place on protecting our staff and the children and youth we care for, particularly those whose medical conditions leave them more vulnerable to infection. The decision comes after having monitored various indicators to help determine the right timing for changes to be made:
- • The wastewater markers have stabilized.
- • The number of COVID-19 outbreaks in our area has also declined.
- • The Government of Ontario has lifted the required masking mandate from hospitals and other health-care settings.
- • Other hospitals in the region have made or are making the same changes, based on a recommendation from the Champlain region’s committee for infection, prevention and control.
With all this information, we are now prepared to take this next step in mask use. We will actively monitor hospital and other public health indicators and make further adjustments as appropriate. In addition, when the colder weather arrives, we will implement our peak viral season safety measures — something that is and has been standard practice at CHEO.
To help protect one another, we are still screening for viral illness among staff, medical staff and everyone else coming to CHEO.
We thank everyone in the community for your continued support in keeping CHEO safe.
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Media contact
media@cheo.on.ca
About CHEO
Dedicated to the best life for every child and youth, CHEO is a global leader in pediatric health care and research. Based in Ottawa, CHEO includes a hospital, children’s treatment centre, school and research institute, with satellite services located throughout eastern Ontario. CHEO provides excellence in complex pediatric care, research and education. We are committed to partnering with families and the community to provide exceptional care — where, when and how it’s needed. CHEO is a partner of the Kids Come First Health Team, a network of partners in eastern Ontario working to create a high quality, standardized and co-ordinated system for pediatric health care centred around children, youth and their families. Every year, CHEO helps more than 500,000 children and youth from eastern Ontario, western Quebec, Nunavut and northern Ontario.