SALISBURY — TidalHealth has changed its masking policies making it no longer mandatory to wear a mask at the patient’s bedside while inside either of their two hospitals.

Over the past few weeks, there has been a steady decline in the number of respiratory viral patients admitted to TidalHealth facilities as well as a decrease in team member absences for such illnesses.

Although masking is now optional for team members, visitors, and patients, it may still be required in certain situations where transmission-based precautions are necessary or during aerosol generating procedures. The healthcare team will alert patients and visitors when required.

Patients, visitors and TidalHealth team members are always welcome to wear a mask whenever they feel it’s appropriate. TidalHealth team members will also immediately put on a mask when requested by a patient or visitor to do so in close contact situations.

TidalHealth continues to remind anyone with respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, and/or sore throat to refrain from visiting. If you have been exposed to someone that is ill, please consider wearing a facemask in public situations even if you have no symptoms.

TidalHealth thanks the communities for their patience during this previous time of mandatory masking in patient rooms, and per its PPE policy and viral spread in the community, it reserves the right to adjust masking practices as necessary.