The Influenza Prevention Policy states that staff and physicians must have had a flu shot or wear a mask while in patient care areas. There is some debate as to what an area is defined as.

Q: What is a patient care area?

A: A patient care area includes any building, property, or site owned, leased, rented or operated by VCH where there are clients who are receiving care; and any client home or other location where covered individuals interact with clients in the course of their work for VCH.

If it is an office area where patients are not normally present, then it is not a patient care area on that ward. In some situations, a bit of judgment is involved. If the staff is in a separate space where there would be no risk of transmission, then they don’t need to wear a mask in that area.