Coming to the Hospital

The Ontario government requires hospitals to actively screen visitors who come to the hospital. The screeners will ask you about:

• symptoms

• recent exposure to someone with COVID-19

• recent travel

• vaccination status (paper or digital receipt showing proof of full vaccination from COVID-19, along with a piece of government issued photo identification is required)

• basic information about you so that we can do contact tracing in the future if needed

This screening is designed to help us ensure that visitors and Essential Care Partners coming into the hospital are not ill and/or not at risk of COVID-19 exposure from travel or close contact.

We strongly encourage all eligible people to get the COVID-19 vaccine, as it protects from serious illness, hospitalization and death. In preventing increases in hospitalizations, getting vaccinated protects our health-care system and ensures that health-care workers can continue to provide care for all those who need it.

Hospital visitation with inpatients is currently restricted to exceptional circumstances only. 

During visitor restrictions, only essential visitors or care partners who meet the criteria for exceptional circumstances are allowed to accompany for the following types of patients:

• Diagnostic Imaging (birthing partners can accompany for obstetrical ultrasounds)
• Ambulatory Clinic
• Chemotherapy
• Dialysis
• Endoscopy
• Outpatient Mental Health
• LAI (Long-acting Injection) Clinic
• Day Surgery / Same Day Surgery

• Women in labour can identify 1 essential care partner for the birth and delivery and stay within the department, this person will remain in the room with mom and baby for the duration of the admission. Meals will be provided. Please bring non-perishable snacks, infant car seat and all other items needed for your stay when you come.
  
  
• The alternative would be the same visitation permissions as other departments: call visitation extension at 4778 to schedule a daily 1-person visit.

• In and out privileges are not permitted and will only be considered under exceptional circumstances with prior authorization by the manager or delegate.
  

If not fully vaccinated:

• 1 birthing partner/spouse not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can attend the birth and delivery, but must wear full personal protective equipment (provided by the hospital). No in and out privileges.
  
  
• The same unvaccinated birthing partner/spouse must remain in the room with mom and baby for the duration of the admission; is not permitted to leave the room. Meals will be provided. Please bring non-perishable snacks, infant car seat and all other items needed for your stay when you come. Smokers are encouraged to bring nicotine replacements as in-out-privileges won't be permitted.
  
  
• At this time, individuals who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will not be permitted to attend C-sections in the operating room, but can remain in the patient room until the mother and baby return.
  
  

Pediatric patients (0-17 years old) can have an essential visitor/care partner stay 24/7.

In and out privileges are not permitted and will only be considered under exceptional circumstances with prior authorization by the manager or delegate. 

Please plan accordingly for your stay by bringing non-perishable snacks and nicotine replacements if you smoke. Meals will be provided.

Although visitor restrictions are in effect and essential visitors and care partners must show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19, CCH recognizes that there may be circumstances in which additional family or care giver presence may be required for compassionate or exceptional reasons. This includes:

• Parents of children under the age of 18
• Those visiting patients at the end-of-life in coordination with the care team
• Other circumstances requiring family presence and coordinated by the care team
• Fully vaccinated partner/spouse of patients having obstetrical ultrasounds
• Staying with your child at the hospital

Using your own device:

With visiting restrictions in effect, we encourage families to reach out to their loved ones who are staying at the hospital, by using their own device for a virtual visit.

Using a CCH device:

What you need for a Virtual Family Visit:

• A valid email address
• A computer/tablet or phone with a camera and microphone
• The Zoom App

A request to set up a virtual visit can be made by calling 613-938-4240 ext: 4740 and is available between the hours of 8:00 pm and 4:00 pm, 7 days a week. Information like the patient’s room number/name and time of the desired visit are helpful details to include when communicating.

Yes. patients who are coming to the hospital for appointments, essential care partners and visitors will be given a disposable medical mask when they enter the hospital. Masks must be worn at all times while in the hospital. Masks help prevent the spread of respiratory illness, including COVID-19, when important measures such as physical distancing are not possible.

Public health guidelines also currently recommend wearing safety glasses during visitation. Please note that essential care partners/visitors are still entitled to visitation even if they do not have safety glasses. CCH does not provide safety glasses, however to comply with this best practice recommended by public health, care partners/visitors are encouraged to bring their own safety glasses from home. 

These are individuals who have been identified by the patient as support persons. If the patient is not capable of designating their essential care partners/visitors their Substitute Decision Maker (as defined by the Province of Ontario) can make the designation.

One (1) essential visitor is permitted under exceptional circumstances only.