The Auburn Community Hospital COVID-19 Response Team issued the following news release on Monday:
“Beginning Tuesday, July 18, 2023, wearing a face mask will no longer be required for patients and staff in most patient care areas at Auburn Community Hospital and our local Physician Practices and Urgent Care Centers. This includes Non-vaccinated employees according to NYS regulations.
(Please note that Finger Lakes Center for Living is regulated by different masking policies and is not part of this announcement at this point).
In line with Auburn Community Hospital’s commitment to patient care, ACH personnel will continue to require wearing a face mask in high-risk patient settings. High-risk immunocompromised patients will be notified to wear a mask while they are at ACH. We will continue to have masks available in our facilities.
Throughout the past three years, we have monitored COVID-19 and evolved our practices. Throughout this challenging time ACH required masks longer than most hospitals in NYS. We are especially appreciative of the support we have received from our community, our employees, and our patients during this challenging time.
We can safely make this change as COVID-19 cases have decreased, and the proportion of patients needing hospitalization for COVID-19 has dropped significantly. This is likely because a large population has at least some immunity from vaccination and/or prior infection, and we now have more tools available to treat COVID-19. However, if a patient prefers that their provider wear a mask, the caregiver will do so.
We will continue to adjust our policies to best serve our patients. This may include requiring masking again in the fall, to help limit the spread of influenza and other respiratory viruses.
-The ACH Covid-19 Response Team”
