Face masks are optional for the public inside Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) hospitals and health-care facilities in areas not associated with patient care.

For visitors, that means masks will be a personal choice in spaces including cafeterias, gift shops, chapels, pharmacies and patient education and support-group meetings on hospital campuses.

The wearing of masks remains mandatory in patient-care areas at LVHN locations, maintaining an important barrier against the spread of COVID-19 to help keep everyone healthy. Anyone with respiratory illness symptoms is asked to always wear a mask in any LVHN facility.

“Across the country, hospitals and health networks are transitioning their masking guidance to allow more flexibility in certain areas,” said Timothy Friel, MD, Chair, Department of Medicine, LVHN.

“We feel it’s appropriate given the state of the pandemic and the downward trend locally in positive tests for both COVID-19 and flu,” Friel said.

Updated signs will be placed in newly-mask optional LVHN locations. Masks will be available near patient-care areas.

“This is a small change, but one we feel is medically-appropriate, based on the sustained downward trend in local COVID-19 transmission,” said Alex Benjamin, MD, Chief Infection Control and Prevention Officer, LVHN.

“Just as with prior surges of COVID-19, we can adjust our masking policies and operations as needed to minimize the risk of the ongoing pandemic to our health care workers, patients and visitors,” Benjamin said.

Benjamin said LVHN continues to urge everyone to be up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations. A person should have received the primary COVID-19 vaccination series and recommended boosters.

Two-thirds of Pennsylvanians are “fully-vaccinated,” according to state Health Department data, i.e., they received the primary COVID-19 vaccination series. Rates are much lower for boosters.

Here are some examples of how the new masking policy will work at LVHN in different locations:

LVPG practices:

Masks required, including in the waiting room.

LVHN hospitals:

Masks optional to enter, or in non-patient care areas including cafeterias and gift shops. Masks also will be optional in family-visitor waiting areas. Masks are required in the emergency room registration and waiting areaes, on inpatient floors, and in other patient care areas, including in procedure areas and physical therapy-rehabilitation spaces.

Diagnostic-care centers:

Masks required, including in the waiting room.

ExpressCARE locations:

Masks required in the registration area, waiting room and in exam rooms.

Elevators:

Masks are optional.

The updated LVHN mask policy went into effect March 6.