Hospitals in Chatham-Kent are slightly loosening visitor restrictions amid the COVID-19 crisis, but only for patients who are close to death.
The Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) said its hospitals in Chatham and Wallaceburg will now allow "one visit by one visitor to a patient who is actively dying."
"This designated visitor can only make one visit to the hospital," the health alliance said.
Prior to the change, no visitors were allowed in the ICU, even for palliative patients. The CKHA said the decision to change its policy was made based on the changing environment and in collaboration with other hospitals in the region.
"When CKHA is making decisions regarding the visitor policies, the organization considers the safety of its patients, staff, physicians as well as the Chatham-Kent community," the hospital said in a news release.
On the other hand, no visitors will be allowed for patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 or are a suspected case, due to the extremely high risk to patients, staff, visitors and the community.
While the CKHA has not disclosed if it is currently treating any patients who have the virus, the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit announced on Friday that four more people have tested positive for COVID-19, for a total of 29 cases in the municipality.
Any patient who is being treated for the virus at the hospital will be permitted to use technology, such as an iPad, for "virtual visits."
"Through generous donations, there are tablets available on every unit for patients to use to connect with their families," the health alliance said. "While this can in no way replace a face to face visit, it does offer one option to connect."
The health alliance's other visitor policies remain in place, including restricting both hospitals to one visitor for each labouring mother, paediatric patient, a patient undergoing life-threatening surgery. As well, all visitors must be 18 years of age or older.
Public entrances continue to be limited to the main entrance at the Chatham site, and the Emergency Department at the Wallaceburg site. Visiting hours are from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
