Idk man instead of constantly changing the rules in hospitals about whether or not masking is required and confusing the shit out of people why not just do the easy thing that protects patients and require them forever. Then nobody ever has to wonder or get confused. They can just be like "oh, going to the hospital, better bring a mask"
@eniko
I'm an old nurse and throughout the pandemic I've kept thinking why the hell didn't we #wearaN95mask ALL. THE. TIME?!! I know I picked up bugs at work. Often.
@kaffando @eniko OSHA sleeping at the wheel, mostly.
@eniko and in semi medical places like opticians as well.

@eniko The hospital here pre-covid had masks available at every entrance, and the front desk. The main entrance and major hallway had signs asking people to mask, and several areas required a mask to enter.

Now, no masks available anywhere, no signs asking you to mask up. Only those that previously required masks still continue to. All staff wear masks 24/7 instead to accommodate for the fact so many absolutely refuse to.

@bgolus @eniko

Yup, political rage-farming has thrown us backwards. Just like with all the wildfires. Pre-covid when the air got half as bad people were looking to mask up, and then nobody had one so it was a struggle to get. Now that everybody owns masks, they refuse to mask up in the worst of the smoke, all because of divisive anti-masking politics during the pandemic.

@eniko As a doctor working in ED precovid I was criticized by exec for wearing a mask. Absolute insanity.
@eniko Hospitals, doctors offices, pharmacies: masking up at places where sick or vulnerable people can be expected to gather should just be the norm. As should be masking up in general when you have any transmittable disease.
@Manny_ @eniko Long-term care, as well!

@eniko

Seriously, what the fuck are we even doing? Hospitals are supposed to be sterile. Everyone should be masking, including custodial services and security.

@Jorsh @eniko We had a window of opportunity to normalise permanent masking in hospitals, as well - in a way that the public would have readily accepted - which is what makes all this flip-flopping over masking requirements even more infuriating.

@eniko

you mean what hawkeye and pierce wear in every episode of MASH that has been on broadcast TV for fifty+ years? Maybe not enough people are familiar with that.

@eniko it's become the defacto policy in Colombia, not sure of by law though, but I think it is.

No matter who you are, you enter with a mask in any hospital, period.

It's a good rule I'd say. If you don't have one you can buy one nearby and cheap but you don't get to enter. Some hospitals do provide them as well.

@eniko my father is in the hospital at the moment. I think I've seen maybe 2 nurses wearing masks (under their noses!!!) and i am baffled. Covid is still very much here.
@eniko Logical! Too bad people with decision making authority aren't
@eniko "Due to a lower prevalence of e-coli infections, hospital administration has enacted a 'personal choice' program for washing one's hands after defecating. While we encourage you to protect others, it is ultimately personal responsibility. Please wipe thoroughly before exiting the stall or touching doorknobs or handles."

@LibertyForward1 @eniko I, for one, still haven't gotten over learning, early on in the pandemic, how many adults simply didn't ever wash their hands. DISGUSTING.

Covid might go away, but that knowledge never will.

@sidereal @LibertyForward1 @eniko having lots of attendants from all over when I first left home was, you know. instructive like that. Ew.

@sidereal @LibertyForward1 @eniko

Humans are filthy McNasty on many levels both physically and mentally. 🐐

@LibertyForward1
Personal choice? Washing your hands is what you do, as taught by my mother.

@eniko why drag logic into this

<snark>

@eniko What's going on with hospitals and clinics is the thing I understand least. These are the experts in medical knowledge. They have strong labor unions. Medical workers have suffered enormously throughout this crisis. If anyone, these should be the people with the knowledge, experience, and resources to meet hygiene requirements, and they have both an ethical commitment to public health and very strong personal interest in doing so.

@eniko where I am in Europe this is reasonably common for my polyclinic. Got an appointment? Mask up, and most other patients do too.

Interestingly the primary care doctor didn’t wear a mask in her cubicle though . . .

@eniko common sense is not normally common - the last few years in particular.
@eniko It's almost like the rules are based on politics rather than health and science.

@eniko my state in Australia is removing mask requirements for hospitals next week

We recently stopped doing weekly tests in the unit I go for treatments

Meanwhile covid numbers going up globally

@eniko The Quebec gov just dropped their last COVID PPE mandate a month or so ago (I am currently stuck in a time warp, so it could have been longer). This surprised me, as doctors offices, hospitals, clinics etc, seem like the natural place to wear a mask. You’re sitting around people who are there specifically because they are sick. Masks should still be mandated for some places.
@eniko Our local medical practice has continued with the mask and hand-cleaning protocoal. I approve, and hope they keep it.