Ottawa-Area Hospitals Reinstate Mask Mandates

A man wears a mask as he walks past the emergency department of the Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster, B.C., on April 3, 2020. Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press

The Ottawa Hospital has made face masks mandatory in all clinical areas and waiting rooms, due to COVID-19 and some seasonal respiratory viruses such as influenza.

In a Sept. 6 announcement on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Ottawa Hospital said the new masking requirement will take effect on Sept. 11, and remain “in place for the duration of the respiratory virus season.”