London Hospitals introduce updated masking guidelines

St. Joseph’s Health Care London (St. Joseph’s) and London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) are introducing updated respiratory season masking guidelines to reflect the current health and safety risks.

Effective Monday, Dec. 15,2025,  St. Joseph’s and LHSC are recommending patients and visitors wear a mask in all clinical areas, care setting, inpatient and outpatient settings and when you are in contact with a health care worker, especially in our inpatient units, clinical waiting rooms, outpatient clinics and Urgent Care Centre.

Patients or visitors with a fever or respiratory symptoms are required to mask in all clinical and non-clinical areas, unless it is in an inpatient room or bed space.

Masks will continue to be available at designated entrances and in care settings.

These changes will ensure staff, physicians, volunteers, patients, residents, visitors and our community remain protected while respiratory viruses circulate this winter.

We would like to thank patients, families, and the community for their ongoing support as we move towards these new requirements and recommendations to ensure our hospital communities are protected throughout the respiratory season.