The Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) is easing some visitor restrictions for its patients and families.
Effective immediately, patients who request to go outside for short periods of time will be allowed to, if they are deemed safe to do so.
Additionally, the hospital is offering outdoor visiting to its long-stay patients on the Rehabilitation and Complex Continuing Care Units.
"The patio area outside of the south entrance adjacent to the emergency department and streetscape has been designated as an outdoor visiting space, and will be called the Riverside Courtyard," CKHA officials said through a media release.
Any visits must be scheduled in advance and will be coordinated by CKHA patient and family communication liaisons, who will determine if the patient is safe to be taken outside by a care partner.
Patients who are able to participate in outdoor visiting will be accompanied to and from the Riverside Courtyard by their care partner and can have up to another two visitors outdoors at that time.
"Visitors and patients will be asked to follow public health measures to ensure everyone’s safety, remain masked and physically distanced during their visit and to refrain from food and drink. CKHA will continue to monitor the success of this initiative and will look to expand it as appropriate with time," stated the media release.
Outdoor visiting hours will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with 45-minute visiting sessions. Outdoor visits can be scheduled by calling 519-352-6400 ext. 6917 or by emailing pfcl@ckha.on.ca.
As of Wednesday morning, two people remain hospitalized in Chatham-Kent with COVID-19.
Meanwhile, the number of active cases went up by one to seven after the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit recorded two new cases and one more recovery.
