Central Health is implementing full visitor restrictions at all health care and long-term care facilities in the Central Health region. This means that all in-person visits to patients on hospital wards and residents in long term care facilities are suspended until further notice and the general public are asked not to visit any patients during this time.
The following exceptions apply:
· Pediatric in-patients are permitted to have both parents/guardians as support persons, and one of these individuals may be present at a time.
· Labour and delivery patients may have a partner/significant other present during labour and delivery. This person is also permitted to stay with the mother and baby up to the time of discharge provided they remain in the facility. Should the partner/significant other leave the facility prior to discharge, they will not be permitted to return.
· For direction on palliative care and end-of-life visitation, please discuss the specific situation with the health care team.
As of Monday, inpatients and residents may be permitted one essential visitor while these restrictions are in place. 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). Each site will be reaching out to families to determine who the essential visitor will be. To see full details on Special Measures Order for Long-term Care, please click here. These restrictions will be in place until further notice but will continue to be evaluated on a daily basis.
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.
At this time, Central Health is also asking that all individuals present to emergency rooms and to health care appointments at Central Health facilities on their own unless a support person is required. One parent can accompany children in the emergency department or for other appointments.
For everyone’s safety, masks are provided to patients and visitors entering Central Health facilities. The provided mask must be worn by all visitors while in the facility.
Anyone experiencing one or more symptoms of COVID-19 is asked to complete the online self-assessment and referral tool at www.811healthline.ca or call the NL Health Line 811 to arrange testing.
Central Health understands 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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Gayle St. Croix
Director of Communications and Government Relations
Central Health
