Visiting procedures are changing at Sudbury's Health Sciences North (HSN) hospital. Beginning today, Wednesday, Jan. 12, HSN said it is allowing only one Designated Care Partner (DCP) per inpatient. No additional visitors are allowed at this time due to the surge of COVID-19 in the community, said HSN in a notice posted on social media.
Under the revised rules, all visitors (who must be designated care partners) are obliged to follow rules with respect to being vaccinated, wearing a mask and following appropriate pandemic precautions such as hand sanitizing, social distancing and only going directly to and from the patient's room.
The hospital highlighted another important change for DCPs and visitors. As of Jan. 10, organizations and businesses that are under the provincial proof-of-vaccination system are advised to no longer accept physician notes as valid medical exemptions. This includes HSN and all HSN buildings.
Now, there are only two ways to prove you are vaccine exempt. They are: valid government-issued personal identification, and; an enhanced vaccination certificate with official QR code.
The hospital further advised that designated care partners must adhere to the following rules:
- • Show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or approved medical exemption.
- • Pass screening for COVID-19 before entering.
- • Wash your hands when entering the building, frequently during your stay, and when leaving.
- • Provide a name and phone number for contact tracing.
- • Wear a mask at all times, even if vaccinated. No eating or drinking in patient rooms is allowed.
- • Maintain a distance of six feet (two metres) from others.
- • Go directly to the patient’s room, stay in the patient’s room for the entire visit, then exit the building.
- • Don’t visit any other places in the hospital to prevent risk of transmission.
