CURRENT MASKING ZONE

Kirkland Lake Site: Yellow Zone

Englehart Site: Yellow Zone

Masking requirements for patients, visitors and employees at Blanche River Health (BRH) will be easier to identify, thanks to the hospital’s colour-coded stop sign system, announced Jorge VanSlyke, President and CEO. 

“Every hospital entrance displays a green, yellow or red stop sign to signal the masking guidelines in place at any particular time,” said VanSlyke. “The system has been in use since October 2023, and has helped reduce confusion surrounding masking requirements. We’re reminding the community to watch for the stop signs as they arrive, and thank them for complying with masking requirements, which are more likely to change when infectious diseases are more frequent, like in the fall and winter.” 

The colour-coded system contains the following: 

• Green stop sign: Wash your hands. Mask if you are unwell or if you choose to do so.
• Yellow stop sign: Wash your hands. Mask if you are a patient, with a patient, or if you are ill.
• Red stop sign: Wash your hands. Mask required at all times.

“I thank the community for their compliance with masking guidelines at Blanche River Health,” added VanSlyke. “Prevention is worth the effort because it can help avoid our patients, who are among the most vulnerable in our community, from getting an illness that can have dire consequences.” 

For information on local fall immunization clinics and timelines, visit timiskaminghu.com.  

About Blanche River Health

Blanche River Health is a 74-bed hospital corporation with two sites serving the North Eastern Ontario communities of Englehart (26 beds) and Kirkland Lake (48 beds) as well as residents in surrounding areas. Our mission is to make health care work for you.

BRH values people and continuous improvement and we demonstrate this through accountability, respect, and courage to excel.

Please direct media inquiries to: Communications and Public Relations
1-866-274-7774 ext. 2144 | communications@blancheriverhealth.ca