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Screening at hospital entrances & visitor restrictions as of Monday, March 16

Posted Mar 14th, 2020

 

Niagara Health has implemented a no-visitors policy effective Thursday, March 19. Click here for more information. 

We are taking special precautions as part of our COVID-19 response to ensure a safe patient care and work environment for all.

Please note the following visitor restrictions and new screening procedures for entering any of our hospital sites.

Niagara Health is a safe place to receive care. Beginning Tuesday, March 17, we are postponing elective surgeries and non-urgent ambulatory procedures as part of our COVID-19 response. Learn more here.

Screening at Hospital Entrances

We are limiting the points of entry/exit at each of our sites and conducting screening of everyone at all entrances. 

Patients, Families, Visitors & Volunteers

Patients, family members, visitors and volunteers meeting the screening criteria for COVID-19 will be directed to a secondary area for further assessment.

Signage will be provided, and staff will be on site to help with adjustments to these changes.

Please note the following Entrances and Exits for Patients, Families, Visitors & Volunteers:

Site Entrance/Exit for Patients, Families, Visitors & Volunteers
St. Catharines Site Main entrance (6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.) & Emergency Department entrance (24/7)
Welland Site Main entrance (6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.) & Emergency Department entrance (24/7)
Greater Niagara General Site Main entrance (6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.)  & Emergency Department entrance (24/7)
Port Colborne Site Urgent Care Centre entrance (24/7)
Douglas Memorial Site Main entrance (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) & Urgent Care Centre entrance (24/7)

Changes to Visiting Policies

We are taking special precautions to provide a safe environment for all, including reducing the number of visitors coming into our hospital sites.

Please note the following changes:

  • one person to accompany a patient to a clinic
  • one visitor at a time on the Inpatient Units
  • visitors under 16 years old may not enter the hospital

Visitors are also asked to limit their movement on the units and remain in patient rooms as much as possible. For compassionate requests, please speak directly with the Unit Manager.

Special Circumstances

Managers will be given discretion on the above guidelines for compassionate reasons. Please speak directly with the Manager overseeing the area in question.

As always, people who feel ill should not visit or accompany patients to appointments.

Niagara Health System