Samaritan announces mask-optional in emergency department and long-term care

WATERTOWN, N.Y. (WWTI) – Several departments at Samaritan Medical Center are going to back to optional masking as of Friday, May 10.

The Emergency Department, Samaritan Keep Home and Samaritan Summit Village will each return to mask-optional for all staff, patients, residents and visitors under certain criteria. This decision comes after closely watching transmission levels of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses, declining infection rates, flu prevalence ending in NYS and other supporting indicators.

Patients, residents, visitors, and/or healthcare personnel are to follow masking practices per unit/department when specifically indicated. For the health and safety of the community, Samaritan reserves the right to require any patient in any area who has signs or symptoms of respiratory illness or COVID-19 to wear a facemask as per Samaritan practices. 

Visitors who are not feeling well, have symptoms of fever, nausea/vomiting, or diarrhea, or have been in contact with anyone who tested positive for COVID-19 cannot visit patients or residents.

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