Providence now requiring all patients and visitors to wear masks

WALLA WALLA—Providence St. Mary Medical Center and Providence Medical Group clinics are now requiring all patients, support people and visitors to wear a mask or face covering. The mask should be put on at or before reaching the entrance and is to remain in place during the entire visit.

People are encouraged to wear their own masks. If they do not have a mask, one will be provided.

“There is nothing more important to us than safeguarding the health of our patients and caregivers,” said Dr. Christopher Hall, Chief Medical Officer. “Asking individuals to wear a mask can reduce the risk that they will transmit the disease unknowingly.”

Providence recognizes that there are some people in our community who have made a personal choice not to wear a mask. In order to accommodate their decision and protect its staff and patients, Providence will ask people who decline to mask to reschedule their care unless they are experiencing a medical emergency.

Testing of some employer groups has verified that in Walla Walla, like elsewhere, there are individuals in the community who have COVID-19 but are not showing any symptoms. This means they can unknowingly spread COVID-19 unless they are taking precautions such as masking, social distancing, practicing good hand hygiene and staying home. Remember a mask does not replace these other important safety habits.

Providence has taken numerous steps to create a safe environment for its caregivers and patients, including strict visitor restrictions, requiring caregivers to wear a mask, social distancing, separating people with possible COVID-19 from all other patients, and isolating suspected and identified COVID-19 patients in rooms with negative airflow so the air from their rooms does not circulate in the buildings.

“It is very important that people not delay seeking needed medical care because they are afraid of contracting COVID-19,” Hall said. “We are doing everything possible to ensure the safety of our caregivers and the public, and that includes masking. Because of the extensive precautions we are taking, I consider our hospital and clinics among the safest buildings in Walla Walla.”