Geisinger institutes mandatory masking at all locations
,
DANVILLE, Pa. – To help stop the spread of COVID-19 in our communities, Geisinger is making changes to its masking policy beginning this weekend. Starting Saturday, all employees, patients and visitors will be required to wear a mask while inside a Geisinger facility.
These changes, announced by Geisinger Friday afternoon, reflect the serious nature of the evolving novel coronavirus pandemic. Earlier in the day, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf made a statewide announcement instructing all Pennsylvanians to wear a mask if they must leave their homes.
“As the coronavirus situation evolves, we continuously reassess our policies and procedures to protect our Geisinger family, patients and communities,” said J. Edward Hartle, M.D., Geisinger Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer. “Due to the increased community spread of the coronavirus across our region, we are starting mandatory masking for everyone entering any Geisinger facility, whether it is clinical or non-clinical.”
Geisinger will provide the appropriate level of mask to all employees, patients and visitors. At minimum, each employee will receive one Level 1 mask weekly. A Level 1 mask is most commonly seen at a doctor’s office. The usually paper-type masks help stop low levels of fluid droplets, like from a cough or sneeze, from spraying forward. A common way COVID-19 is transmitted is through droplets in the air immediately around an individual.
For additional information about COVID-19, visit Geisinger’s Coronavirus Resource Center at geisinger.org/coronavirus.
These changes, announced by Geisinger Friday afternoon, reflect the serious nature of the evolving novel coronavirus pandemic. Earlier in the day, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf made a statewide announcement instructing all Pennsylvanians to wear a mask if they must leave their homes.
“As the coronavirus situation evolves, we continuously reassess our policies and procedures to protect our Geisinger family, patients and communities,” said J. Edward Hartle, M.D., Geisinger Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer. “Due to the increased community spread of the coronavirus across our region, we are starting mandatory masking for everyone entering any Geisinger facility, whether it is clinical or non-clinical.”
Geisinger will provide the appropriate level of mask to all employees, patients and visitors. At minimum, each employee will receive one Level 1 mask weekly. A Level 1 mask is most commonly seen at a doctor’s office. The usually paper-type masks help stop low levels of fluid droplets, like from a cough or sneeze, from spraying forward. A common way COVID-19 is transmitted is through droplets in the air immediately around an individual.
For additional information about COVID-19, visit Geisinger’s Coronavirus Resource Center at geisinger.org/coronavirus.
About Geisinger
Geisinger is committed to making better health easier for the more than 1 million people it serves. Founded more than 100 years ago by Abigail Geisinger, the system now includes 10 hospital campuses, a health plan with more than half a million members, a research institute and the Geisinger College of Health Sciences, which includes schools of medicine, nursing and graduate education. With more than 25,000 employees and 1,700+ employed physicians, Geisinger boosts its hometown economies in Pennsylvania by billions of dollars annually. Learn more at geisinger.org or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.
