Mandatory masking policy still in effect at Health PEI facilities

A reminder from Health PEI that its mandatory masking policy is still in effect. Members of the public, visitors, and partners in care must wear a mask while in a Health PEI care facility.   Health PEI says that although respiratory illness season should be behind us, the number of positive cases of respiratory illness on the Island went up in the last week.  The national benchmark for declaring the season over is when the influenza testing positivity rate is 5% or below. The latest data from the Chief Public Health Office shows PEI is still over 12%. Within the last month alone, Health PEI facilities experienced three outbreaks of respiratory illness, including one on the inpatient unit at Kings County Memorial Hospital.