At the following facilities, visitors are limited to one consistent visitor/support person per patient/resident due to potential COVID exposures, suspected COVID positive patients/residents, or other illness:
- Harmony Lane, North Unity, Bay St. George Long Term Care
- 3A and 3B Medicine Unit, Western Memorial Regional Hospital
- 3 South Floor/Bakeapple Avenue, Corner Brook Long Term Care
- First Floor/Blueberry Crescent, Corner Brook Long Term Care
On all other units at hospitals, health centres and long term care homes, each patient and resident may have multiple visitors throughout the day, however, only two can visit at the same time. Please note that some areas/units may not be able to accommodate two visitors at the same time due to the space available and the need to maintain physical distancing requirements. In these cases, care teams will work with families to identify visitation options.
Support persons/visitors are advised of the following visitation guidelines:
- COVID-19 Screening: Visitation is not permitted if the support person/visitor is symptomatic (i.e. experiencing any one or more symptoms of COVID-19) or self-isolating (except in specific situations such as labour and delivery and end-of-life visitation).
- Perform hand hygiene and maintain physical distancing (two meters/six feet).
Precautions around confirmed/suspect cases of COVID-19
- Patients/residents who are suspected to have COVID-19 must wear personal protective equipment for the visit as per protocol.
- If a patient/resident is confirmed COVID-19 positive, limited visitation can occur in consultation with the care team.
- As well, anyone who is feeling unwell or sick should not visit patients/residents.
Please do NOT visit any health care facility if you feel ill or are experiencing flu-like or gastrointestinal symptoms.
Masking requirements are in place at hospitals, long-term care facilities and health-care facilities throughout the region.
Masking recommendations for health-care facilities for the 2023-24 fall/winter respiratory season are as follows:
- Masking is currently encouraged for visitors and support persons in all clinical settings, including while visiting patients and residents and in waiting areas for health-care services/appointments.
- Additional masking protocols may be implemented if there is an outbreak at a facility; visitors/support persons should check with the care team in these situations for the required personal protective equipment.
- NL Health Services will continue to monitor epidemiology, hospitalizations and outbreaks and masking guidelines will be re-evaluated March 31, 2024.
Reminders:
- Individuals who are seeking or receiving health-care services 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. Visitors/support persons who are feeling unwell or sick should not visit patients/residents or accompany others to appointments.
- Visitors/support persons are also asked to consider the safety of those you 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.
- Masks continue to be available at health-care facilities across the province. Individuals can wear their own medical mask or a mask provided at the health-care facility.