Nova Scotia Health facilities removing entry screening

HALIFAX, N.S. — Nova Scotia Health will remove site screeners and entry screening at its facilities starting Sunday, Sept. 10.

The screeners were brought into health authority facilities and some outpatient blood collection sites early into the COVID-19 pandemic.

They helped keep the accessibility of facilities controlled, asked COVID-19 screening questions, handed out masks and ensured hand hygiene for patients.

With the screeners gone, pre-screening for respiratory viruses will be done at the unit or clinic level through appointment letters and phone calls.

Nova Scotia Health said staff will conduct assessments when interacting with patients to determine the risk of exposure and consider appropriate precautions for safe care.

The facilities will also have signs to explain entrance protocols, and the front entrance will have self-serve dispensing units for masks and hand sanitation.

Masks are no longer needed to enter the facilities, but those who show COVID-19 symptoms will need to be masked when in the buildings.

Visitors, or people without appointments or care needs, should avoid Nova Scotia Health sites when they are ill.

Additionally, health-care workers will continue to wear masks when providing care on inpatient units in emergency departments and ambulatory areas that give care to immunocompromised patients.