Face masks will be optional for patients, guests and employees in most areas where patient care is provided within Lehigh Valley Health Network hospitals and health care facilities starting today, LVHN officials announced.

Masks continue to be optional in non-patient care areas such as cafeterias, pharmacies, chapels and gift shops.

“For several weeks, COVID-19 cases have trended downward in the communities LVHN serves, which makes this change appropriate given the current conditions,” said Alex Benjamin, MD, chief infection control and prevention officer at LVHN. “We will continue to monitor the number of COVID-19 cases in our community and adjust our masking policy accordingly if cases increase to protect our patients, visitors and colleagues.”

While masking will be optional in most areas, there are circumstances and locations where masks will be required for patients and guests. These include: anyone with a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis; anyone with respiratory viral symptoms; transplant donors and recipients; patients and guests in Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute inpatient and outpatient locations; patients receiving infusion therapy; NICU visitors and inpatient psychiatric units.

Anyone with a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case should not be visiting LVHN sites.

Benjamin said LVHN continues to urge everyone to be up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations, meaning a person who received their primary COVID-19 vaccination series and any recommended boosters.