Cape Fear Valley Health is relaxing its masking guidelines for patients, visitors and staff effective Friday, according to a news release.
The health system continues to affirm that masks are an effective tool to fight the spread of respiratory illnesses and other airborne viruse, and that surgical masks, KN-95 or N-95 masks are allowed in any area that employees, visitors or patients choose to wear one.
The health system is also adjusting visitation guidelines for patients in Emergency Department and ExpressCare locations. Masking and visitation policies are frequently assessed and may change again in response to local health trends, the release said.
Exceptions to easing of mask rules
Cape Fear Valley will no longer routinely require masks for most patients, visitors and employees, except in the following areas/situations:
Respiratory illness: Patients who have respiratory symptoms as well as the emloyees treating them and their visitors will be required to wear a mask. Visitors who have respiratory symptoms are encouraged to avoid visitation, but if they need to come to a Cape Fear Valley facility, they will be required to wear a mask. Masks for patients and visitors will be provided by the health system upon request. Hospital patients who require masking precautions inside their room for staff and visitors will have a sign on their door, like other isolation warnings and requirements commonly used in hospitals.
Immunocompromised patients and the Cancer Center: Patients who are immunocompromised, whether in the Cancer Center or throughout the facility, as well as the employees treating them and their visitors, will be required to wear a mask. Masks for patients and visitors will be provided by the health system upon request. Patients within the hospital who require masking precautions inside their room for employees and visitors will have a sign on their door, like other isolation warnings and requirements commonly used in hospitals.
Emergency Department waiting room and triage: Patients, visitors and emloyees in the waiting rooms of an Emergency Department or ExpressCare, as well as those units’ triage areas, will be required to wear at least a surgical mask. Masks will no longer be required for ED or ExpressCare patients after they are placed in a room and have been assessed to not need mask precautions.
Intensive Care Unit, PICU and NICU: Masking will still be required for patients, employees and visitors in all ICUs because of the highly vulnerable nature of these patients.
Unvaccinated employees: In compliance with current guidelines from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, employees who have been exempted from the health system’s COVID-19 vaccination requirement and remain unvaccinated must continue to wear an N-95 mask or stronger.
Visitation update: Patients in an Emergency Department or ExpressCare who are 65 or older or who are cognitively impaired, regardless of age, may have one visitor at a time in the waiting area. The visitor can switch between different people, but only one at a time. Previous guidelines restricted this to only patients who required assistance because of physical or mental impairment. All other ED or ExpressCare patients may have one visitor when they are assigned a private treatment room.
The full visitation policy can be found online here: https://www.capefearvalley.com/visit.
