All staff at Windsor Regional Hospital to mask up when near patients

Starting on Tuesday, staff and volunteers at Windsor Regional Hospital will be required to wearmasks when they're near patients.

The hospital says its anticipating a rise in COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses in the community, and that's what prompted a return to themasking policy that was in place earlier this year.

"We appreciate the public's continued patience and understanding of past and present measures to reduce the opportunity for respiratory virus transmission in our hospital settings," the hospital said in a media release Thursday.

The hospital says all staff and volunteers must wear masks if they're within two metres of a patientand no physical barriers are present.

The hospital is also recommending that visitors mask up when near patients as well.

"Masking is highly recommended for visitors and patients in waiting rooms and lounges in high-risk areas such as Dialysis, the Emergency Department and the Cancer Centre," the hospital said in a media release.

Masks are available at the hospital entrances.