Beginning Thursday, May 21, all patients and visitors at Lucas County Health Center (LCHC) will be encouraged to bring and wear their own cloth masks – if they have them – to help limit the spread of COVID-19. This follows guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that encourages all people to wear face coverings in places where it’s not always practical to maintain six feet of separation between individuals.
For patients and visitors who do not have their own homemade mask, LCHC will supply one. (Note: At this time, cloth masks are being reserved for patients and visitors.)
Additionally, LCHC staff involved in direct patient care or screening will continue to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) such as procedure masks and face shields. Non-patient care staff will also be encouraged to wear masks in common areas, such as hallways and waiting rooms.
It is well documented that many people infected with COVID-19 are asymptomatic and that they can still transmit the virus to others, even without knowing they are sick themselves.
By asking patients and visitors to bring their own homemade masks, LCHC will be able to preserve their own level of procedure masks and homemade masks for staff, patients and visitors.
For those who are interested in making their own masks, visit lchcia.com for guidelines. Additionally, LCHC continues to accept donations of homemade masks. For more information about making a donation, call (641) 774-3000.
Protecting our patients, staff, and community continues to be our highest priority.