Effective immediately, the White City-based VA Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center & Clinics is putting in place an indoor mask requirement because of a local uptick in coronavirus cases, the organization said in a news release.

The measure, which is meant “to protect the health and safety of our veterans, staff and visitors,” is expected to be temporary, the release Sunday said.

“We understand that this may be an inconvenience, but our top priority is to ensure the well-being of everyone who enters our doors,” the release said. “During this time, we will closely monitor the situation and develop specific metrics to determine when it will be appropriate to lift the mask requirement and return to normal operations.”

The organization continued: “It’s important to note that this decision is not meant to cause alarm, but rather to act as a precautionary step in response to the recent spread of COVID-19 cases.”

On Friday, the VA SORCC announced on Facebook that it had canceled events, including Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings, in White City through Sept. 8 due to the virus.