Most masks off: Cape Fear Valley Health eases masking rules for patients, visitors, staff

Paul Woolverton, The Fayetteville Observer
·2 min read

Citing improvements in local health statistics, Cape Fear Valley Health is rolling back its requirements for when patients, visitors and staff must wear face masks to reduce the spread of infectious diseases.

The mask rules have not been completely eliminated, but they are no longer routinely required for most patients, visitors and staff, the health system said in a news release Wednesday.

“The health system continues to affirm that masks are an effective tool to fight the spread of respiratory illnesses and other airborne viruses, therefore surgical masks, KN-95 or N-95 masks are allowed in any area that staff, visitors or patients choose to wear one,” it said.

Cape Fear Valley Health has hospitals and health care facilities in and around Fayetteville and Cumberland County, and in Hoke and Bladen counties.

Mask-wearing requirements are being eased for patients, visitors and staff at Cape Fear Valley Health System, as health conditions have improved in the area.
Mask-wearing requirements are being eased for patients, visitors and staff at Cape Fear Valley Health System, as health conditions have improved in the area.

When will masks still be required?

Here are the remaining circumstances in which masks are required as of Friday:

  • Respiratory illness. Patients who have respiratory symptoms as well as the staff treating them and their visitors will be required to wear a mask.

  • Immunocompromised patients and the Cancer Center. Patients who are immunocompromised, whether in the Cancer Center or throughout the facility, as well as the staff treating them, and their visitors, will be required to wear a mask.

  • Emergency Department Waiting Room and Triage. Patients, visitors and staff in the waiting rooms of an Emergency Department or ExpressCare, as well as those units’ triage areas, will be required to wear at least a surgical mask. Masks will no longer be required for ED or ExpressCare patients after they are placed in a room and have been assessed to not need mask precautions.

  • Intensive Care Units. Masking will still be required for patients, staff and visitors in all ICUs because of the highly vulnerable nature of these patients.

  • Unvaccinated employees. Staff who have been exempted from the health system’s COVID-19 vaccination requirement and remain unvaccinated must use an N-95 mask or better.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Cape Fear Valley Health eases masking rules for patients, visitors, staff