Masks no longer required at MaineHealth facilities

FILE PHOTO Maine Medical Center, shown here, is the flagship of MaineHealth.

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MaineHealth is lifting its mask requirement at all of its facilities effective May 1, saying the change reflects evolving trends.

The facilities care team members, patients, visitors and others entering MaineHealth facilities will no longer require masks in the health care system’s hospitals or clinics.

“Masking has been invaluable in preventing transmission of various illnesses, and we encourage everyone who is experiencing respiratory symptoms to stay home or, at the very least, mask,” said Dora Anne Mills, MaineHealth's chief health improvement office, in the announcement. “We will have masks available for all who wish to use them. We believe that this change will be very beneficial to communications between our care team members and our patients, and will overall help with our provision of care at all levels.”

The announcement comes a week after Northern Light Health announced it was ending its universal masking policy.

“Masking continues to be a vital part of our infection prevention toolbox,” said Glenda Dwyer, senior vice president of clinical operations at Northern Light Health in the April 20 press release. “While many of us are excited for this next step ... it’s important to remember that masks provide protection from many illnesses.

"You cannot always see people’s vulnerabilities; you don’t know who they may be caring for at home.”

Masks at MaineHealth and NorthernLight will still be required under certain circumstances, such as interactions with patients who have COVID.

MaineHealth will continue to provide masks for those who choose to wear one. Similar to Northern Light, patients can also request that caregivers wear a mask.

MaineHealth, the state's largest health care system, owns and operates Maine Medical Center in Portland, has a service area with 1.1 million people in Maine and Carroll County, N.H., and employs more than 22,000 people.

MaineHealth is No. 1 among Maine's largest employers, according to the 2023 Mainebiz Book of Lists, ranked by the average monthly employment, Q1 2022.