New Brunswick’s health authorities announced Monday morning they are relaxing their COVID-19 visitation rules effective immediately.
Horizon Health Network said patients in its hospitals and health-care facilities can have one social visitor or Designated Support Person at a time. Vitalité Health Network is implementing similar rules, but exceptions can be made for patients needing assistance.
“The downward trend in the COVID-19 positivity rate, combined with the substantial reduction in the number of outbreaks in our health facilities, is allowing us to move to the orange level effective today,” said Dr. France Desrosiers, President and CEO of the Vitalité Health Network.
“The network is monitoring the situation closely and will adjust again if things change.”
Visiting hours for visitors in both networks are 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Hours for Designated Support Persons, however, are flexible and are determined in discussion with health-care staff.
Under the new guidelines, all visitors to Horizon and Vitalité facilities must:
- Monitor themselves for COVID-19 symptoms before each visit and take part in active screening prior to entering
- Be fully vaccinated against COVID-19
- Wear a mask at all times, maintain physical distancing and clean their hands frequently.
- Limit their interactions with staff, and other patients and visitors
- Leave the patient’s room when staff are conducting procedures
- Visitors must only visit one patient during their visit.
Staff may, at any time, limit the number of visitors in an area or the length of visits. There will also be no visitors for patients in outbreak units or units under investigation for potential outbreaks.