Facial Covering Requirements

No visitor may be required to wear a facial covering, unless it is mandated by a healthcare provider in the following circumstances:

• The visitor exhibits signs or symptoms or has a diagnosed infectious disease that can be spread through droplet or airborne transmission.
• The Visitor is in a sterile area of the health care setting or an area where sterile procedures are being performed.
• The visitor is in a resident’s or clinical room with a resident who exhibits signs or symptoms of or has a diagnosed infectious disease that can be spread through droplet or airborne transmission.
• The visitor is visiting a resident whose healthcare provider has diagnosed the resident with or confirmed a condition affecting the immune system. This condition is known to increase the risk of transmission of an infection from employees without signs and symptoms of infection to a resident.
• The resident’s healthcare practitioner has determined that the use of facial covering is necessary for the resident’s safety.

• Residents have the right to opt out of wearing facial coverings, even if required by their healthcare provider, provided there is no risk to their health and safety or the health and safety of others in the community.
• To opt out, residents must submit a written request to the community’s management, acknowledging the potential risks and consequences associated with not wearing a facial covering.
• The community will respect the resident’s decision and take necessary measures to accommodate their choice.

• Visitors have the option to opt out of wearing facial coverings if an alternative method of infection control or infectious disease prevention is available and approved by the community’s management.
• Visitors who wish to opt out must inform the communities staff upon entry and adhere to any additional safety measures in place.

Staff may opt out of wearing facial coverings except in the following situations:

• When conducting sterile procedures.
• When working in designated sterile areas.
• When working with a resident whose healthcare provider has diagnosed the resident with or confirmed a condition affecting the immune system, necessitating a facial covering for the resident’s safety, as determined by the resident’s healthcare practitioner.
• When working with a resident on droplet or airborne isolation.
• When engaged in non-clinical potentially hazardous activities that require facial coverings to prevent physical injury or harm in accordance with industry standards.