Health P.E.I. Implements Mask Requirement Across All Facilities
Health P.E.I. announced a new masking policy that will require masks inside all facilities operated by the provincial health authority starting Tuesday, Oct. 14. The move comes as officials respond to a rising presence of respiratory illnesses on Prince Edward Island and the need to safeguard patients, residents, and the healthcare workforce.
What the Policy Entails
Under the policy, members of the public, visitors, and partners in care must wear a mask when they are within two metres (approximately six feet) of any patient or resident in a Health P.E.I. facility. Masks will be available at all building entrances, ensuring visitors can comply upon arrival.
Officials emphasized that masking will not be required at all times within facilities. Rather, masks are mandated when people are within six feet of patients or residents or during direct patient care. The policy is designed to reduce the transmission of respiratory illnesses that are common in the fall and winter months.
Rationale and Leadership Perspective
Lara MacMurdo, director of occupational health, safety and wellness at Health P.E.I., framed masking as a practical, repeatable safeguard. She noted that respiratory illness rates tend to rise this time of year and highlighted masking as one of several measures to protect both patients and healthcare workers.
“Masks are known to be one of those easy measures that we can implement to ensure the safety and the health of our health-care workforce and our overall health-care system,” MacMurdo said. “It’s just one of those things that we can expect to see year over year… Masking is that new reality. It’s not a matter of if we’re going to mask, it’s a matter of when we’re going to mask.”
Beyond Masks: Additional Infection Control Measures
Health P.E.I. affirmed that masking is part of a broader infection control approach. Staff will continue to adhere to hand hygiene protocols, stay home when sick, and report illnesses to their supervisors. The agency did not indicate any other major changes to visitation policies, but stressed that masking will be reassessed as conditions warrant.
Implementation and Next Steps
Starting Oct. 14, masks will be stocked at all Health P.E.I. entrances, and staff will receive guidelines on when they may remove their masks for comfort or procedural reasons. The plan is to maintain flexibility, allowing for policy updates as health conditions evolve and as new information becomes available about circulating illnesses.
Public Reception and What It Means for Islanders
The policy has implications for patients and families who access care within Health P.E.I. facilities, as well as for the broader Island community. While the rule emphasizes proximity to patients, it also signals a cautious, precautionary approach to illness prevention in healthcare environments. Islanders who frequently visit clinics or hospitals may need to carry masks during the transition period and through the fall season.
Looking Ahead
Health P.E.I. said it will review the masking policy periodically and may update it when it is safe to do so. As respiratory illnesses persist seasonally, the agency’s leadership suggests masks will remain a practical option for protecting vulnerable patients and supporting a resilient healthcare system on Prince Edward Island.
