MEDIA RELEASE: DRHC UPDATES VISITOR RESTRICTIONS POLICY

August 12, 2021

DRYDEN, ON - In response to low COVID-19 activity and high vaccination rates in the region, the Dryden Regional Health Centre (DRHC) has updated the COVID-19 Visitor Restrictions Policy in an effort to balance our dedication to provide quality, compassionate care, and to keep vulnerable patients and staff safe.

General Visitors are permitted in the Inpatient unit between the hours of 8:00am - 8:00pm, and must provide proof of vaccination and pass the entrance screen. Inpatients are permitted two visitors at a time during visiting hours.

To support this change, the COVID-19 entrance screening tool has been updated to ask patients and visitors to provide proof of full vaccination (14 days past the second dose). Please have proof of vaccination, either physical or digital, ready when you report to the screening desk. Fully vaccinated visitors will not fail the screen based on travel outside of Canada alone.

Essential Visitors (visits that are paramount to the patient's fundamental care needs, including mental health and emotional support) for palliative, maternity, Emergency Department and children are permitted 24 hour per day.

Essential visitors can be permitted without proof of full vaccination, however they must still pass the entrance screen. Essential visitors who have not been fully vaccinated and have traveled outside of Canada may still be permitted on a case-by-case basis, but must follow PPE and testing requirements.

Patients will not be restricted from accessing services based on vaccination status.

The COVID-19 Incident Management Team will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation in the region, and may need to ramp up visitor restrictions or other infection control measures as the situation evolves.

If you have any questions about the Visitor Restrictions policy, please call 223-8200 and ask to speak with the Nurse Manager.

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