Lehigh Valley Health Network making face masks optional in parts of hospitals, facilities – lehighvalleylive.com

Starting Monday, face masks will not be required in parts of Lehigh Valley Health Network’s hospitals and health care facilities.

Masks will be optional for the public in areas including elevators, cafeterias, gift shops, chapels, pharmacies, patient education and support group meetings on hospital campuses.

Masking will still be mandatory in all patient care areas at all LVHN locations; the network said this maintains an important barrier against the spread of COVID-19. Network officials also ask anyone with respiratory illness symptoms to always wear a mask in any LVHN facility.

“Across the country, hospitals and health networks are transitioning their masking guidance to allow more flexibility in certain areas,” said Dr. Timothy Friel, chair of LVHN’s department of medicine. “We feel it’s appropriate given the state of the pandemic and the downward trend locally in positive tests for both COVID-19 and flu.”

Patient levels and death totals, key metrics to assess the virus’ spread, have been decreasing after the brief winter surge in the end of December and beginning of January.

Masks will still be available near LVHN patient care areas, and officials said the network can always adjust the masking policy in the event of a COVID surge.

“This is a small change, but one we feel is medically appropriate, based on the sustained downward trend in local COVID-19 transmission,” Dr. Alex Benjamin, LVHN’s chief infection control and prevention officer, said.

What does this mean for people who go to one of LVHN’s 13 hospital campuses; 28 health centers; 20 ExpressCARE locations, or numerous physician practices, pharmacy, imaging, home health, rehabilitation and lab services?

At Lehigh Valley Physician Group practice locations and diagnostic care centers, masks will be required including in the waiting rooms.

At ExpressCARE locations, masks must be worn in the registration area, waiting room and in exam rooms.

At LVHN hospitals, masks will be required in the emergency room registration and waiting areas, on inpatient floors, and in all other patient care areas, including in procedure areas and physical therapy/rehabilitation spaces.

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Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com.