December 29, 2021
Effective December 29, Central Health will implement visitor restrictions at all Central Health facilities to align with provincial guidance in response to COVID-19 outbreaks in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Visitor restrictions
All hospitals, long term care homes, health centres and personal care homes are closed to all visitors with the exception of one support person, for residents/patients who require a support person.
For residents newly admitted to residential care, a support person may be identified to assist in transitioning to the person’s new home.
There are no changes to visitation for residents/patients at end of life or obstetrics.
A support person is an individual considered by the patient/resident’s care team to be paramount to the resident’s physical care and mental well-being, and can be a loved one, friend, or paid caregiver. They may provide assistance with feeding, mobility, personal care, communication assistance or assistance with significant behavioral symptoms
Visitor screening is still in place for support persons, please check with your loved ones healthcare facility for visitation schedules.
In addition, the following guidelines 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 an identified support person.
For direction on palliative care and end-of-life visitation, please discuss visitation with the health care team.
At this time, all individuals who go to emergency departments and appointments are asked to go alone, unless a support person is required. One parent can accompany children in the emergency department or for other appointments.
Individuals requiring information about their loved ones should phone the appropriate nursing unit.
Please give consideration to using alternate communication methods such as virtual visits and phone calls to maintain contact with your loved ones, when possible, rather than in-person visiting. Central Health would like to thank the public for their understanding and co-operation at this time.
Gayle St. Croix
Director of Communications
