Officials of UR Medicine and Rochester Regional Health are announcing a "universal masking" policy for their hospitals, starting at 7:00 Tuesday evening.
Dr. Michael Apokstalakos of UR Medicine says coronavirus can be controlled and people can recover from it. He says all staff, vendors and visitors will help that process by wearing masks when they visit all hospitals and medical facilities in both systems. This does not apply to patients who visit doctors' offices or ambulatory medical facilities. They'll be screened for temperature before entering the facility. He says it doesn't mean you're in danger if you enter a facility where everyone is wearing masks; he says it's a sign that they're trying to keep you safe.
Dr. Apokstalakos says people who don't work with the sick don't need a new mask every day, so visitors and service workers will be asked to reuse theirs. He says there's currently an adequate supply of masks locally to support universal masking, and doing it now will help "flatten the curve" and reduce spread of the disease.
Dr. Robert Mayo of Rochester Regional Health says hand-washing and cleaning are the main weapons right now against COVID-19. He says the masking policy for all Rochester Regional Health hospitals mean all employees will wear masks through the day and face shields and other personal protective gear as appropriate.