As health systems across the country are seeing a steady decrease in COVID-19, RSV and flu patients, the major health care providers in the Hampton Roads area—Bon Secours, Chesapeake Regional Healthcare, Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters Health System, Riverside Health System and Sentara Healthcare, released a joint announcement Monday in support of removing masking requirements across its facilities.
As of Tuesday, March 21, patients, visitors and team members are no longer required to wear a mask at all times within the health care facilities. Exceptions include:
—Patients who are seeking treatment for a respiratory illness such as COVID-19 or the flu should continue to wear a mask to prevent spreading the virus to others.
—Health care workers must continue to follow standard and transmission-based precautions during all patient encounters.All health care professionals will continue to follow infection prevention protocols. Health systems will continue to monitor Virginia’s...