Changes to Visitation Guidelines and Single Site Order Effective July 19

Changes to Visitation Guidelines and Single Site Order Effective July 19

Dear Families and Residents,

We are pleased to inform you that the BC Ministry of Health and Public Health Office announced it will be easing restrictions in relation to visitation guidelines and single site order, effective July 19, 2021. While we will continue to follow all Public Health guidelines and directives – including hand hygiene, physical distancing and masking – these changes will greatly benefit residents and their family members.

Below are highlights of the key changes that are being made:

Visitation Changes:

  • No longer required to schedule visits in advance.
  • No limit to the number of visitors as long as it aligns with site capacity to support resident needs and well-being.
  • Screening of visitors and Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practices such as hand hygiene, use of medical masks and physical distancing remain in place.
  • Screeners are on duty from 6:45am to 7:30pm daily. If you’re visiting during off hours, please check in/out with the Team Leader on duty. #604-777-5000 ext. 2108 or ring the doorbell. Please do not enter without being screened.
 

Vaccination of Visitors:

  • Strongly recommended visitors be fully immunized recognizing residents are still vulnerable to COVID-19 even when fully immunized themselves. Visitors will be asked to provide proof of vaccination status.
  • Fully immunized visitors are required to wear a medical mask while moving through the facility and in common areas but are not required to wear a mask while in direct contact with the person they are visiting.
  • Visitors who do not demonstrate that they are fully immunized are required to wear a medical mask for the duration of their visit, including when in direct contact with the person they are visiting.

Staff and Resident Vaccination

  • Public Health Order will require all long-term care and seniors’ assisted living facilities to maintain and provide public health records of the vaccination status of residents, staff, personal service providers and volunteers.
  • Staff who are not confirmed to be fully immunized against COVID-19 will be required to wear a mask/eye protection and undergo regular rapid testing and any follow-up required from that testing.
  • Personal service providers and volunteers working in long-term care and seniors’ assisted living must be fully immunized.

For Your Information – Single Site Orders

  • The Single Site Orders, put in place last spring, prohibit staff from working at multiple long-term care and assisted living sites in order to protect seniors vulnerable to serious illness and death from COVID-19.
  • These orders will be amended to allow fully immunized staff to work across a designated cluster of sites. Further direction with be coming from FHA.

In the event of a Covid 19 outbreak, visitations will be put on hold.

We thank you for your cooperation, understanding and for all of your support including all the goodies and kind words. From the Care Team Staff, Activity Team Staff, Housekeeping, Maintenance, and Administration hope that you are well.

Thank you for your attention,

Jay Haraga, Executive Director

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