A single visitor or support person is now allowed for all patients in hospitals and long-term care in the province.
The Regional health authorities provided an update yesterday, June 10.
Visiting hours will be determined by each facility and the designated visitor or a support person should contact the person’s caregivers for further information.
All designated visitors will be provided with information on the screening process in place, the signs and symptoms of COVID-19, and the use of personnel protective equipment.
New mothers can have one support person who can stay for the duration of the mother and newborns stay and can visit as many times as they like.
Patients in intensive care can have two support persons with them at the same time.
Dr. Janice Fitzgerald understands the importance of visitation, especially to those in long-term care, but says that population is also the greatest risk.
She says that long-term care are particularly susceptible to severe illness, and “we don’t have to look very far to see the consequences of COVID-19 getting into one of these facilities.