The hospital hallway seems both familiar and foreign as I walk through it on a chilly October morning. Patients and staff move with purpose, their faces half-hidden behind surgical masks – a sight that might have seemed strange five years ago but has become part of our collective healthcare experience.
“It’s just part of how we do things now,” says nurse Joanne MacLean, adjusting her N95 as she checks a patient’s chart at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown. “Some days I barely notice I’m wearing it anymore.”
While many public spaces across Canada have long abandoned mask requirements, Prince Edward Island’s healthcare facilities continue to maintain mandatory masking policies as respiratory illness season intensifies. Hospital administrators point to a combination of practical experience and evolving evidence that masks remain an effective tool in reducing transmission within healthcare settings.
Dr. Michael Gardam, CEO of Health PEI, explains the rationale behind the continued mandate. “Our priority is protecting vulnerable patients and maintaining staffing levels. When we look at the data from previous respiratory seasons, facilities that maintained masking saw fewer staff absences and reduced patient-to-patient transmission.”
The policy requires all staff, visitors, and patients to wear masks in patient care areas, with exceptions made only for children under two and those with medical exemptions. Unlike earlier pandemic protocols, the current approach represents a more targeted strategy focused specifically on healthcare environments where vulnerability is highest.
Walking through the pediatric ward, I notice the colorful masks worn by staff caring for the island’s youngest patients. Pediatric specialist Dr. Sarah Thompson tells me they’ve adapted their approach over time to make masking less intimidating for children.
“We’ve learned a lot about balancing infection control with emotional connection,” Thompson says, pulling down her mask briefly to smile at a young patient before replacing it. “Sometimes I’ll show children my face on a lanyard photo, or step back six feet to let them see my whole face if they’re anxious.”
For many healthcare workers, the continued masking requirement represents a pragmatic rather than political choice. Respiratory therapist David Chen, who worked through multiple COVID waves at Prince County Hospital in Summerside, describes how his perspective has evolved.
“Early in the pandemic, everything felt like an emergency response. Now it’s more like standard practice based on what we’ve learned about respiratory virus transmission. During high-circulation periods, masks make sense in hospitals regardless of whether we’re talking about COVID, RSV, or influenza.”
Health PEI reports that hospitalizations for respiratory illnesses typically increase 30-45% during peak season months compared to summer baselines, according to their internal surveillance data. The continuous masking policy aims to flatten these predictable surges.
The island’s approach stands in contrast to some neighboring provinces where masking has become optional even in healthcare settings. Nova Scotia relaxed hospital masking requirements last spring except during designated outbreaks, while New Brunswick follows a seasonal approach, implementing requirements only during peak respiratory illness periods.
Infectious disease specialist Dr. Lisa Barrett from Dalhousie University suggests these different regional approaches reflect both local health system capacity and community preferences. “There’s no perfect one-size-fits-all policy,” Barrett explains during our phone conversation. “PEI has a smaller healthcare system that can be quickly overwhelmed by staff absences, so their more conservative approach makes sense for their context.”
For patients with compromised immune systems, the hospital’s mask policy provides reassurance. Charlottetown resident Emma MacDonald, who receives regular treatments for an autoimmune condition, tells me she feels safer knowing masks remain required.
“When I’m coming in for treatment, I’m already vulnerable,” MacDonald says. “Knowing everyone around me is taking this basic precaution lets me focus on my health instead of worrying about catching something while I’m here.”
However, not everyone embraces the continuing requirement. During my visit, I overhear a visitor at the hospital entrance expressing frustration about having to mask up. “I don’t wear these anywhere else anymore. When does this end?” he asks the screening attendant, who patiently explains the policy while offering him a fresh surgical mask.
Health PEI has developed communications materials addressing such concerns, emphasizing that hospital masking isn’t just about COVID-19 but about protecting vulnerable patients from all respiratory viruses. Their website features stories from immunocompromised patients explaining why the policy matters to them – a narrative approach that research from the University of British Columbia suggests is more effective than simply stating rules.
As flu season progresses, the island’s health authorities will continue monitoring respiratory illness rates across the province. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada’s FluWatch program, this year’s influenza activity has begun earlier than average in Atlantic provinces, potentially signaling a challenging season ahead.
For now, the masks remain – not as emergency measures but as reasoned precautions in spaces where vulnerability and illness intersect. As I leave the hospital, I notice staff members outside on break, masks temporarily lowered as they chat and laugh together, a reminder that behind these protective layers are healthcare workers still finding moments of connection amid the continuing challenges of care.
