Visitor Precautions

What are visitor precautions?

 

Visitor precautions are a series of infection control measures put in place to reduce the spread of illness or infection diseases which are common in health care facilities. They are designed to help keep residents, families, staff and visitors healthy and safe.

 

At times, a health-care facility may need to implement visitor restrictions if they are experiencing an increase of flu-like or gastrointestinal illness among patients or residents. This means that individuals should refrain from visiting the facility when possible and immediate family should contact the facility before visiting.

 

Help reduce the spread of illness

 

Visitors can help reduce the spread of illness by doing the following:

• Do not visit if you are ill.

• Check with nursing staff before you visit.

• Clean your hands before entering and after visiting your loved ones. 

• Should you visit more than one resident at one visit, please ensure you take the necessary precautions. 

• Wear protective equipment, such as masks, gown and gloves for the duration of the visit, if required. Nursing staff will advise which equipment is required, how to properly apply and remove it.

 

Please do NOT visit any health care facility if you feel ill or are experiencing flu-like or gastrointestinal symptoms.

​

Visitor precautions do not apply to family/friends visiting palliative care patients or residents. 

 

​

Preventing the spread of infection

​

To prevent the spread of infection, the public and all staff are advised to:

• wash your hands frequently using soap and water or an alcohol based hand sanitizer, if soap and water are not available

• cover coughs or sneezes with a tissue or the crook of your arms 

• avoid touching your face

​

Masking 

​

• Masking is no longer required for visitors/support persons, clients, and patients, pending they meet the self-screening requirements, in clinical areas in health-care facilities (including waiting areas for health-care services/appointments, clinical care/treatment areas, and while visiting patients and long-term care residents). 

• If a facility experiences an outbreak, additional masking protocols may be implemented; visitors or support persons should check with the care team for the required personal protective equipment.  

• Reminder: Individuals seeking or receiving health-care services who are symptomatic (i.e. experiencing any one or more symptoms of COVID-19 or respiratory symptoms) must always wear a mask upon entry and while inside the health-care facility. Visitors/support persons feeling unwell or sick should not visit patients/residents or accompany others to appointments.  

• Masks continue to be available at health-care facilities across the province. Individuals who would like to continue wearing masks are encouraged to do so. 

• Individuals can wear their medical mask, or a mask provided at the health-care facility. 

• Visitors and support persons are also asked to consider the safety of those they are visiting. It can be especially important to wear a mask if you are around others who are at risk of more severe disease and outcomes, including those with chronic conditions, compromised immune systems, and older adults or young children.  

​

Types of Precautions:

​

Limited Precautions - the following regulations are in place:

• No children under 14 years of age are permitted to visit

• One visitor per patient/resident at a time

• Palliative care visitations will be determined in collaboration with the patient, family and care team

• Individuals requiring information about their loved ones are asked to phone the appropriate nursing unit
   

Full Precautions:

• No visitation is permitted at this time

• Individuals requiring information about their loved ones are asked to phone the appropriate nursing unit

​

 

 *regulations are subject to change due to exceptional circumstances like increased spread*

​

Where are the current LIMITED visitor restrictions?