Niagara Health doubling up on visitors in hospitals
Published March 14, 2022 at 9:35 am
Starting today (March 14), Niagara Health is opening up its visitor policy in Niagara hospitals, allowing two visitors per patient.
Just a few weeks back, the health unit started allowing single visitors to patients so this is a sizable jump from a month ago when Omicron had virtually shut down all visitors.
However, this new policy only applies to those actually in hospital beds. For those visiting emergency departments and urgent care centres, only one visitor or family member is allowed to keep the numbers reasonable.
However, the new policy does allow freedom for those visiting patients in the maternity wards, meaning families can visit newborns. The updated overall rules are:
- Two visitors at the bedside at a time. No restriction on total number of visitors throughout the day.
- No change to visiting hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Children and youth may visit as long as they are able to wear a mask at all times.
- Patients may designate up to two essential care partners who can be present 24/7 but need to coordinate with other visitors to ensure only two people are at the bedside at a time.
- At times, patients are in isolation and unable to accept essential care partners or visitors due to COVID-19. Check with the patient’s unit ahead of your visit to see if your loved one can have a visitor.
All of the hospitals’ infection prevention and control measures will stay in place to maintain a safe environment and must be followed by everyone, such as screening for COVID-19, wearing a mask at all times, physical distancing, hand hygiene, no eating or drinking inside. This includes individuals who have been vaccinated.
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