Niagara Health hospitals, Joseph Brant ease visitor restrictions

Niagara Health is easing visitor restrictions at its hospitals starting Monday.

Hospitals will allow two visiting blocks for patients that have been admitted.

Inpatients will be able to receive visitors from 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Visitors must be 18 or older, pass a security screening and bring their own mask and wear it at all times.

People are also being reminded to follow hygiene and physical distancing throughout their stay.

All visitors are being asked to enter through the main entrance of each hospital.

The exceptions are Port Colborne and Douglas Memorial hospitals, where visitors should use the Urgent Care Centre entrance.

There are limited exceptions for additional visitors or extended visiting times.

Those will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Patients coming for clinic visits and other outpatient services are still asked to come alone.

Meanwhile, Burlington’s Joseph Brant hospital is also allowing visitors for admitted patients as of Monday.

Visiting hours there are from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Each patient can identify two people to visit during the stay.

Only one visitor is permitted at a time.

The hospital is also adding more private rooms on the post-partum unit starting July 2.

That will allow a patient’s care partner to stay with them during their entire stay.

Hamilton hospitals loosened their visitor restrictions last week, with many of the same stipulations.