At this time, temporary visitation/attendance restrictions remain in place at all provincially-operated acute care facilities, health centres and long-term care homes, as well as privately operated long-term care homes, personal care homes, community care homes and assisted living facilities. All visitors and support persons must wear the provided mask for the duration of their time in all Eastern Health facilities. Visitation may be suspended if visitors do not adhere to established procedures.
During Alert Level 2, the following restrictions are in place at Eastern Health facilities:
In-patients
- Hospital patients can identify one support person and five identified visitors. Patients and residents will be limited to two visitors per day who may visit separately once a day.
Palliative care
- The guidelines for palliative care can vary and are individualized based on the patient’s condition. Visitation should be discussed with the health-care team.
Labour and delivery
- Obstetrics patients may have one support person and one doula during delivery, and four additional designated visitors are permitted after delivery up to the time of the patient’s discharge.
Pediatric in-patients
- Children who are in-patients may have both parents/guardians visit at the same time and there are no restrictions on the number of visits per day.
- Additionally, four individuals can be identified as designated visitors.
Intensive care unit/critical care unit
- Patients are permitted two designated visitors who can visit at the same time.
Out-patients and emergency department
Cancer care out-patients
- For cancer care patients, one essential visitor/support person is permitted for patients who have a clinic appointment with their health-care provider. For radiation, chemotherapy, or bloodwork treatment visits, we continue to ask that patients come alone unless they meet criteria set by the provincial guidelines.
Residential care settings (long-term care, personal-care homes, community care homes, and assisted living facilities)
- Residents can identify one support person and five identified visitors, please connect with the care team to discuss visitation hours.
- Families of residents in residential care settings (long-term care, personal-care homes, community care homes, and assisted living facilities) should contact the home for information about visitation procedures as they may vary at each facility.
- Virtual visitation can be an alternate way to connect with loved ones during these visitor restrictions. To arrange for a virtual visit, please also discuss your request with the care team.
Visitor restrictions during the pandemic are critically important to the safety of our patients, staff and physicians. We would like to thank the public for their understanding and co-operation during this time.
Support persons/caregiver
In certain exceptional circumstances, inpatients and residents may be permitted one designated support person/caregiver for the duration of their stay while these restrictions are in place, consistent with Eastern Health’s Family Presence and General Visitation policy.
A support person may be a relative, legal guardian, friend, or formal/informal caregiver who provides direct care to the client (e.g. feeding support, mobility, personal hygiene, cognitive stimulation, communication, and assistance in decision-making). If a patient feels a support person/caregiver is required, they should discuss their request with their care-team.
Changes to visitation at this time during the pandemic are critically important to the safety of our patients, staff and physicians.
Virtual visitation
Virtual visitation can be an alternate way to connect with loved ones during these visitor restrictions. To arrange for a virtual visit, please also discuss your request with the care team.
Emergency visits
At this time, we ask that all individuals present to emergency rooms and to health-care appointments at Eastern Health facilities on their own unless a support person is required. One parent can accompany children in the emergency department or for other appointments.
We understand these changes to visitation are difficult, but they are critically important to the safety of our patients, clients, residents, staff and physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic. We thank you for your understanding and collaboration during this unprecedented time.
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