Province eases COVID-19 hospital rules, will allow 1 person per patient to make daily visits

Starting as soon as Friday, patients in Manitoba hospitals will be able to have at least one visitor, as the province is beginning to loosen strict visitation rules intended to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Most patients in hospitals or health centres will be able to designate one support person who can visit once a day, with some exceptions for certain patients, according to Shared Health Chief Nursing Officer Lanette Siragusa.

Friday can't come soon enough for some.

"We know thatthe last few months have been incredibly difficult for patients and their families," she said at a news conference Wednesday, adding that she and Dr. Brent Roussin have received numerous letters sharing "honest feedback" about the policy around visitor access.

For more than two months, visitors have been banned from all acute care facilities at Manitoba hospitals,with certain exemptions, including visits for compassionate or end-of-life reasons.

There are some exceptions to the new guidelines, Siragusa says.

Long-term patients, or people who are staying in hospital for longer than two weeks, will be able to appoint two people who can visit for the duration of their stay in hospital.

Most visitors will be expected to visit one at a time, except those visiting patients under the age of 14.

For labour and delivery, mothers can identify two support people, one of whom can stay overnight. Children in hospital can have two people can visit at the same time, and one person can stay overnight.

Forpatients receiving end-of-life care, who aren't expected to live longer than two weeks, a maximum of four people can visit, and two are allowed outside of regular visiting hours,Siragusa says.

"It's not always possible to accurately predict when this will happen, but the care team will consider this stage of illness," she said.

Although nobody who has COVID-19 in Manitoba is currently in hospital, Siragusa says any future COVID-19 patientswill be allowed visitors, too.

"It will be restricted somewhat. Clinical care teams will grant exceptions and work to make sure that the appropriate [personal protective equipment] is worn and applied appropriately," she said.

Designated support people must follow strict hand hygiene rules and maintain physical distance, she says.

They won't be allowed to visit if they have travelled recently, show any symptoms of COVID-19 or have had close contact with someone with the virus.

"We believe these new guidelines strike a balance between protecting staff and patients, minimizing the spread of COVID, as well as ensuring that those vital connections with loved ones helpto promote health and healing," she said.

The new visitor rules will begin to be phased in starting on Friday, with all facilities on board by June 8.

Meanwhile, Winnipeg's Victoria Hospital started apilot program this week that allowsshort patient visits outside. Each day, a total ofsix patients at the hospital are able to have one45-minute visit with one other person.

Manitoba personal care homes have also introduced outdoor visits successfully, according to a news release from Health Minister Cameron Friesen.

Siragusa says she hopes more outdoor visits can happen at hospitals.