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Beginning Monday, April 24, 2023, the Erie VA Medical Center (Erie VAMC) and its county VA clinics will implement updated masking requirements. This update ensures the safety of Veterans and staff while observing individual masking guidance in alignment with the CDC.
Erie VAMC conducted a comprehensive risk assessment and determined that high risk areas will require masking at all times. These include Acute Care, Community Living Centers, Oncology, Urology (for those receiving treatments), Urgent Care, operating rooms, Dental, Respiratory Therapy, locations where respiratory specimens are collected or processed, and waiting areas and examination rooms in high risk areas.
Masking remains mandatory for individuals with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 or other viral respiratory infections.
Universal masking will be relaxed in non-patient care areas when the Erie VAMC and our county VA clinics are in Medium (yellow) and Low (green) Health Protection Levels levels as defined by Erie VAMC Infection Control, based on the COVID-19 community transmission rate, and in accordance with the VHA COVID-19 guidelines. Current community transmission rates may be found HERE.
In addition, the following rules apply:
- Continued use of screening at all entrances
- Anyone observing universal masking is permitted to continue
- COVID-19 testing, and vaccination support will be available for Veterans
- Employees with flu-like symptoms will not report for work and contact Employee Occupational Health
- VHA healthcare staff must wear a mask if a Veteran, caregiver, or family member asks them to wear one (in Medium and Low Health Protection Levels)
Veterans and employees with questions related to the new masking guidance may contact Monica Farrell, Infection Control Coordinator at monica.farrell@va.gov.
We appreciate your understanding and commitment to safety for patients, staff, and the community.
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