Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) Health Services advises the public that effective Wednesday, November 4, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. masking is temporarily required in all clinical areas in hospitals and health-care facilities, including long-term care facilities for the safety of all clients, patients and residents. Masking requirements in clinical areas apply to visitors/support persons, clients, patients (outpatient clinics and emergency departments) and health-care workers.

As health-care facilities report a rise in respiratory illnesses, these updated masking requirements are put in place to help reduce the spread of infection. NL Health Services will continue to monitor respiratory illness cases, hospitalizations and outbreaks and masking guidelines will be re-evaluated by March 31, 2027.

The public is also reminded to self-screen for COVID-19/respiratory illness prior to entering a health-care facility.

Masking

• Visitors, support persons, and outpatients (including those in emergency departments) must wear a well-fitted medical mask in all clinical and waiting areas and while visiting patients and long-term care residents. Patients admitted to hospital and long-term care residents are not required to wear masks.
• Individuals seeking or receiving health-care services who have respiratory symptoms, COVID-19 symptoms, or a rash must wear a mask at all times while in a health-care facility.
• Visitors/support persons who are feeling unwell should not visit patients/residents or accompany others to appointments.
• Individuals can wear their own medical mask or use one provided at the entrance. Cloth masks and masks with exhalation valves are not permitted.

Self-screening for COVID-19/respiratory illness

• Visitors/support persons should not visit a health-care facility if they feel ill or are experiencing COVID-19, flu-like or gastrointestinal symptoms.
• Visitors/support persons are directed to follow signage at health-care facilities and meet the self-screening requirements before proceeding inside the health-care facility. In addition, visitors/support persons can complete self-screening prior to arrival at the facility by visiting NL Health Services’ masking and self-screening page.

These precautions are in place to help keep patients, clients, long-term care residents, visitors, staff and physicians safe and to help in the prevention and spread of infection. NL Health Services thanks the public for their co-operation.

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