Masking and self screening

Masking guidelines are in place in hospitals and health-care facilities, including long-term care facilities.

• Masking is temporarily required in all clinical areas in hospitals and health-care facilities, including long-term care facilities, effective Monday, November 3, 2025 at 8:00 a.m.

• Masking requirements in clinical areas apply to visitors/support persons, clients, patients (in outpatient clinics and emergency departments) and health-care workers.
• Visitors/support persons, clients and patients (in outpatient clinics and emergency departments) are required to wear a well-fitted medical mask in all clinical areas, including waiting areas for health-care services/appointments, care/treatment areas and while visiting patients and long-term care residents. These requirements do not apply to patients admitted to hospital or long-term care residents.

• Individuals seeking or receiving health-care services who are symptomatic (i.e. have one or more symptoms of COVID-19 or respiratory symptoms) or have a rash are reminded that they are required to wear a mask upon entry and at all times while inside a health-care facility. Visitors/support persons who are feeling unwell or sick should not visit patients/residents or accompany others to appointments.

• Individuals can wear their own medical mask or a mask provided at the health-care facility. Cloth masks and masks with exhalation valves are not permitted.

• With health-care facilities seeing an increase in respiratory illness, these updated masking requirements are put in place to help reduce the spread of infection. NL Health Services will continue to monitor epidemiology, hospitalizations and outbreaks and masking guidelines will be re-evaluated by March 31, 2026.

Visitors/support persons are directed to self-screen for COVID-19/respiratory illness and must meet the self-screening requirements before proceeding inside the health-care facility.

Visitors/support persons are directed to follow signage at the health-care facility they are visiting or complete the below self-screening prior to arrival at the health-care facility.

Visitors/support persons who are feeling unwell or sick should not visit patients/residents or accompany others to appointments.

Do you have any one or more of the following symptoms?

• Fever (including chills/sweats)
• New onset of muscle aches
• Vomiting or diarrhea for more than 24 hours

New or worsening:

• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Runny, stuffy or congested nose (not related to seasonal allergies or other known causes/conditions)
• Sore throat or difficulty swallowing
• Headache
• Acute loss of sense of smell or taste
• Unusual fatigue, lack of energy
• Loss of appetite

If yes, do not visit.

• Perform hand hygiene. 
• Follow all guidelines for the unit/area you are visiting.  

Visitation is not permitted if the support person/visitor is symptomatic (i.e. experiencing any one or more symptoms of COVID-19 or respiratory symptoms).  

• For extenuating circumstances such as labour and delivery or end-of-life, visiting should be done in consultation with the clinical care team.