Northumberland Hilld Hospital announced Monday that, effective immediately, most COVID-19 visiting restrictions will be lifted.
This includes the daily maximum of two visitors or essential caregivers and the return of open visiting hours – meaning no set visiting hours.
The move follows consultation with NHH Patient and Family Advisors, front-line staff and physicians, infection-prevention and -control leaders, informed by the province's removal of all public-health directives related to COVID-19.
Visitors will still be expected to self-screen for symptoms of COVID-19 or other illness, a change from the active screening which required visitors to answer a series of questions posed by hospital staff regarding their current health and possible exposure to COVID at the door.
“Visitors will be accountable for deciding for themselves if they are ill or at risk of a potential exposure,” the announcement said.
“If you are experiencing symptoms of any kind we ask, for the safety of your loved ones and others, please postpone your visit to patients in the hospital.”
Instructions will be available at all three entrances (main entrance, emergency entrance and dialysis entrance), and volunteers will be available at times of peak visiting to help visitors and patients understand the new process and answer questions.
The announcement stressed that, as a high-risk setting, NHH will retain its universal masking policy throughout the premises and the Community Mental Health offices. Visitors will continue to have access to free masks upon entering both locations, and will be asked to wear these medical-grade masks at all times while inside, except while eating or drinking in designated areas (no eating or drinking is permitted by visitors in patient rooms).
And visiting will continue to be on hold for inpatients in rooms that are located in a COVID-19 hot zone (a unit designated in outbreak status by Public Health or presumed positive for COVID-19). At the time of the announcement, there were no active outbreaks at NHH. Alerts on any new outbreaks will be shared publicly as appropriate through NHH's communication channels.
Hospital President and Chief Executive Officer Susan Walsh expressed her appreciation for the challenge that the pandemic has caused patients, visitors and the entire community over the past two years.
“We are extremely grateful for the patience, co-operation and flexibility shown through the many changes we have had to implement to manage risk,” Walsh added.
“With all provincial public health directives now lifted regarding COVID-19, and temporary pandemic funding to support designated screeners within the hospital now concluded, most COVID-19 visitor restrictions will be lifted, with the exception of universal masking.
“We will be monitoring the situation closely and, should local or in-hospital circumstances change, we will revisit our decision and revise accordingly.”
Walsh noted that NHH recognizes the vital role visitors play in health and healing.
“At the same time, we are also mindful of the fact that COVID-19 is still circulating in the community. We cannot emphasize enough the importance of everyone's continued diligence with regard to masking and self-screening to minimize the risk of spread of COVID-19 within the facility. Thank you for your understanding and support.”
For more details on visiting guidelines (including information on virtual visiting, which will continue in limited form), see the Visiting Guidelines section under the Visitor Page of the NHH website at https://nhh.ca
