New Visitor Requirements
24-8-2021
Windsor-Essex hospitals are proactively addressing patient visitation - mandating proof of vaccination before visiting a patient in the hospital.
Starting August 30, 2021, Windsor Regional Hospital and Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare will require everyone visiting a patient in the hospitals to provide proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result before their visit. Erie Shores HealthCare will be implementing the same policy starting September 7, 2021.
On August 3, 2021, Windsor Regional Hospital announced a similar policy for all staff (employees and professional staff) contractors, students and volunteers that was eventually confirmed into law by Directive #6 by Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr Kieran Moore, on August 17, 2021. The Chief Medical Officer of Health stated Directive #6 is to be treated as a “minimum” and healthcare organizations can go further then Directive #6 based on local circumstances.
Windsor/Essex has experienced a surge in COVID-19 positive cases in the community. For the past week, Windsor/Essex has averaged 91 cases per 100,000 (ON average 26.7 cases per 100,000) and a 5.7% positivity rate (ON average 2.6%). Both are the highest in the Province of Ontario.
At Windsor Regional Hospital, starting 12:01 am August 30, 2021, anyone wanting to visit an in-patient or attend with a patient for an out-patient procedure at Windsor Regional Hospital will have to:
- provide documented proof of their COVID-19 vaccination evidencing 14 days have passed since their second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine; OR
- provide a negative PCR (polymerase chain reaction test) OR community based antigen test result taken within 3 days before their visit.
COVID-19 vaccine receipts can be obtained online at covid19.ontariohealth.ca.
In cases where the visitor is the parent/guardian of a paediatric patient, visiting a palliative/end of life patient, visiting a laboring patient or visiting a patient with a life-altering or critical illness as identified by the clinical team and cannot provide proof of their vaccination or do not have time to receive a PCR/community antigen test result, the hospital will accommodate the visitor through another process to be determined at that time.
Visitors will need to arrange their COVID-19 test at a community swabbing centre (view locations at covid-19.ontario.ca/assessment-centre-locations). A hospital based COVID-19 Assessment Centre can only test/swab symptomatic patients per Ontario government direction.
Regardless of vaccination status, visitors will still be required to wear appropriate PPE as directed by the hospital. At this time this is a medical-grade mask and face shield.
The visitation policy at WRH can be found at wrh.on.ca/COVID19-Visitation.
“From the start of this pandemic, at Windsor Regional Hospital, we have been proactive with our planning and policies to protect our community and staff. In the past, without vaccinations, we had little choice but to stop the visitation of patients when community COVID-19 numbers or positive COVID-19 inpatient numbers increased. With the massive increase in community spread of COVID-19, we have to go further than the minimum set in the Province based on our local circumstances,” stated David Musyj, President and CEO, WRH.
Walk-in vaccinations available
COVID-19 vaccinations are the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Those seeking vaccinations for either a first dose or second dose (if 28 days from the first dose) can walk into the Devonshire Mall Vaccination Centre, or book an appointment online between 8 am and 3:15 pm, seven days a week at wevax.ca.
Please continue to visit ontario.ca/coronavirus or wrh.on.ca for regular updates on COVID-19.
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