Chatham-Kent Health Alliance will now allow one visitor for patients

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (File Photo)

Windsor, Ont. — Chatham-Kent Health Alliance has altered its visitor restrictions allowing for inpatients to have one visitor per day.

Starting Wednesday, patients can have one visitor per day who will be allowed to visit between 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The visitor must check in at the nurses’ station before their visit and a hospital wide announcement will be made when visiting hours are over.

“The health and safety of everyone will continue to be priority with each phase carefully monitored over time. As the pandemic evolves, CKHA will determine if it is necessary to change course, at any time, to maintain the safety of staff, patients and the community,” the news release stated.

The hospital cited the low frequency of COVID-19 cases in Chatham-Kent along with feedback from patients, families, staff and doctors in implementing visitor changes and said it would be taking a staged approach.

Visiting outside the allotted hours will be permitted for patients who are dying or palliative and will be approved by the care team first.

There will be no visitors allowed to see a confirmed COVID-19 positive patient, the hospital says, regardless of condition.

Other modifications and exceptions to CKHA's visiting policy include:

Visitors will continue to be screened at the main entrance at the Chatham site and the emergency department entrance at the Wallaceburg site. All visitors must wear a mask and be over the age of 18.

CKHA is also asking visitors “out of an abundance of caution” if they are paying frequent visits to a loved one in the hospital to try and limit movement throughout the community to avoid the spread of illness.