Face masks at CHEO

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Why is CHEO handing out masks?

Wearing a mask protects others when you are at CHEO and helps keep everyone safe — children, youth, parents, caregivers and staff. Not everyone shows symptoms of COVID-19, so these masks can reduce the chance that others will come into contact with infected respiratory droplets and become sick. Please use face masks in addition to good hand hygiene and physical distancing.

When do I wear my mask?

Masks are worn at all times in the Emergency Department. In the rest of CHEO, masks are worn at all times except when you are in your child or youth's patient environment and no one else is there.  

What is considered a patient environment?

• exam or clinic rooms (excluding the Emergency Department) 
• inpatient rooms
• bed space in shared rooms when the curtain are drawn

When can I take off my mask?

• When you are in your child’s or youth’s own patient environment and no one else is there (excluding the Emergency Department). You must wear your mask at all times when in the Emergency Department.

What if I am in a double room?

If your child is in a shared room with another child, you are required to wear your mask when the curtain surrounding your child’s hospital bed is not drawn or when you need to cross into the designated space of the area shared by your child’s roommate. For example, when you need to use the washroom that is shared with your child’s roommate and when you are leaving your child’s room.

What do I do when I need to eat or drink?

• Before eating and drinking, please get a new mask from a Caregiver Safety Promoter station, located by the elevators on Levels 3, 4, 5 and 6. 
• Wash your hands properly immediately before and after putting on your mask and immediately before and after removing your mask.
• Completely remove and discard the mask before eating and drinking.