You can now see your loved ones in long-term care homes for an outdoor visit.
Up to two people can visit a resident at a time, plus two essential caregivers.
Visitors will also be screened for COVID once they arrive.
The visit will have to be outdoors, and masks are required.
On top of masking, the health officials have decided on other restrictions to ensure these visits are as safe as possible.
Below is the list released by the government outlining the guidelines that will have to be followed:
- A maximum of two general visitors at a time per resident in addition to two essential caregiver(s).
- Children under the age of two years do not count towards the general visitor maximum.
- General visitors need to be actively screened upon arrival and should not proceed beyond entry points / areas in homes.
- General visitors do not need to undergo a rapid antigen test as their visit will be outdoors.
- General visitors need to maintain physical distancing and wear masks and every effort should be made to ensure different groups of visitors are also physically distanced.
- Recognizing that not all homes have enough outdoor space, these visits may also take place in the general vicinity of the home. Homes should leverage nearby amenities such as local parks or parkettes to enable family and friends to visit their loved ones.
This easing of restrictions comes from what Long-Term Care Minister Merrilee Fullerton calls an “excellent uptake of vaccines” for residents in LTCs.
96 per cent of LTC residents have received both their vaccine doses.
