Alberta Health Services (AHS) has reinstated a masking directive in healthcare facilities to stop the spread of COVID-19. .“The Use of Masks to Prevent Transmission of COVID-19 Directive, which comes into effect today, is a tool that Zone Executive Leadership or Chief Program Officers and Site Leadership will use to make site and zone-specific enhanced masking decisions,” said AHS in a Wednesday letter to staff. .“When implemented by the Site Leadership and Zone Executive Leadership (or the Chief Program Officer), the directive will require all AHS staff, workers at Precision Laboratories, Covenant Health, Lamont Health Care Centre, as well as all physicians, midwives, students volunteers and contracted service providers to mask in an acute care facility.” .AHS said this directive “supports local leadership to determine if enhanced masking is necessary and can include patient care areas, elevators/staircases/hallways, common areas, gift shops and cafeterias.” .Alberta Premier Danielle Smith confirmed in November she would not support school boards reinstating mask requirements amid an uptick in respiratory virus cases. .READ MORE: Smith says mask mandates not coming back to schools.“We’ve heard loud and clear from parents that they want a normal school environment for their kids,” said Smith. .“We’re going to let kids be kids.” .AHS dropped its mask mandate in most hospitals in June. .READ MORE: UNMASKED: AHS removes mask mandate from facilities.It said the removal would include continuing care and contracted sites. .“This applies to all patients, families, and visitors at AHS facilities, as well as Alberta Precision Laboratories, Covenant Health, CapitalCare, and Carewest sites,” it said.
