Screening and COVID-19 Testing

COVID-19/Respiratory Illness Screening

Visitors/support persons are directed to self-screen for COVID-19/respiratory illness. Visitors/support persons must meet the self-screening requirements before proceeding inside the health-care facility. Anyone who is feeling unwell or sick should not visit clients/patients/residents.
Patients, residents and clients will continue to be screened at registration and can proceed directly to registration upon arrival at the health-care facility. Individuals who are symptomatic (i.e. experiencing any one or more symptoms of COVID-19 or respiratory symptoms) are required to wear a mask upon entry and while inside the health-care facility.

Visitation is not permitted if the support person/visitor is symptomatic (i.e. experiencing any one or more symptoms of COVID-19 or respiratory symptoms) or self-isolating (except in specific situations such as labour and delivery and end-of-life visitation and only in consultation with the patient/resident’s clinical care team).

Visitors/support persons are directed to follow signage at the health-care facility they are visiting and must successfully meet the screening requirements before proceeding inside of the health-care facility. Visitors/support persons can also complete the below self-screening prior to arrival at the health-care facility.

Visitor/Support Person: COVID-19/Respiratory Illness Screening

1. Do you have any one or more of the following symptoms?

• Fever (including chills/sweats).
• New onset of muscle aches.
• Vomiting or diarrhea for more than 24 hours.

New or worsening:

• Cough.
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
• Runny, stuffy or congested nose (not related to seasonal allergies or other known causes/conditions).
• Sore throat or difficulty swallowing.
• Headache.
• Acute loss of sense of smell or taste.
• Unusual fatigue, lack of energy.
• Loss of appetite.

If yes, do not visit.

2. Are you self-isolating (including modified self-isolation)?

If yes, do not visit (except in specific situations for labour and delivery and end-of-life visitation, and only in consultation with the clinical care team).

All visitors/support persons must:

• Perform hand hygiene.
• Follow all guidelines for the unit/area you are visiting. (Visitation policy: Two people may visit at the same time).

Patient Screening: Patients, residents and clients are screened at point of registration. The COVID-19/respiratory illness screening tool allows for any necessary precautions (e.g. personal protective equipment and isolation protocols) to be put in place, as required, to help protect patients, staff and physicians as they provide health-care services. Patients are directed to contact the relevant clinic prior to arriving for their appointment at an Eastern Health hospital or facility if they are experiencing one or more symptoms of COVID-19 or are self-isolating

COVID-19 Testing

All patients requiring hospital admission as well as patients who receive health-care services in hospitals, health-care centres/clinics and via home visits from Eastern Health staff, will be screened for COVID-19/respiratory symptoms via the triage risk assessment screening tool. Individuals who have symptoms will be assessed via the screening tool and will be tested, as needed.