Some people are turning to a medication intended for horses to treat COVID-19, and San Juan Regional Medical Center is advising against it. (Courtesy of San Juan Regional Medical Center)
Some people are turning to a medication intended for horses to treat COVID-19, and San Juan Regional Medical Center is advising against it. (Courtesy of San Juan Regional Medical Center)Courtesy of San Juan regional Medical Center

San Juan Regional Medical Center announced it will no longer require visitors to wear masks when visiting the main hospital facility.

A news release stated that the reason for easing the mask requirement was low transmission rates of COVID-19 in the community. The change is effective immediately.

Hospital visitors are asked to self-screen before entering the hospital. Those who exhibit flu-like symptoms, or are COVID positive, will be required to wear a mask to protect patients, caregivers and other visitors.

Caregivers are no longer required to wear masks during direct patient care, unless a patient’s condition requires masking, such as COVID positive patients.

Patients presenting to the Emergency Department or Urgent Care with influenza-like symptoms or COVID-19 will be required to wear a mask.

For healthy individuals with no flu-like symptoms, masks continue to be optional at all San Juan Health Partners clinic locations and ancillary outpatient clinics.

Those who prefer to continue wearing a mask are encouraged to do so.

SJRMC’s masking policy is based on the county transmission rate and could change depending on fluctuations in the county’s COVID transmission rate.