Limited Visiting Resumes with Restrictions

July 2, 2020 – Sault Area Hospital (SAH) will commence visiting for our inpatients on July 2, 2020. The return of patient visiting to inpatient areas will be different from before the COVID-19 pandemic period. There will NOT BE a resumption of OPEN visiting at this time. The number of visitors is being restricted for the safety of all patients and staff, as COVID-19 remains a concern for our community.

What to know about visiting at this stage of the Pandemic:

  1. Visits will be scheduled for patients by their care teams based on the frequency recommended by SAH 
  2. Each patient can only have 1 (one) visitor at their scheduled day at the predetermined time  
  3. The visit will be restricted to the patient’s room only at this time 
  4. All visitors must enter through the main entrance/lobby of the hospital

Each inpatient may have one identified designated visitor and one alternate visitor. The care team will be contacting each patient to determine who will be the designated visitor and/or the alternate visitor. The care team will also establish a visiting schedule.  

Previous restrictive visitor entry is still in place in outpatient areas (Emergency Department, Outpatient Clinics). Only one person may accompany a patient at all times in all areas, if the person provides support for:

  • a vulnerable patient (under the age of 18, cognitive impairment, significant developmental and/or intellectual disability, unable to effectively communicate)
  • a patient experiencing a life altering event (end of life, critically ill, trauma)

Designated visitors will be screened at each visit to ensure they have no signs and symptoms of COVID-19 or any other communicable illness. Visitors with communicable illness symptoms will not be permitted to visit.

Visitors will be required to clean their hands with the hand sanitizer when entering the hospital and when entering and exiting the patient’s room. Visitors must also wear a mask or face covering at the point of entry to the hospital. The mask or face covering must be clean and cover both the nose and mouth. If visitors do not have a mask or face covering, a mask will be provided at the point of entry. Visitors are reminded to maintain 2 metres or 6 feet of physical distance with the patient and others at all times.

For more information about visiting, visitor responsibilities and Frequently Asked Questions, please access our

Visitor Guide on our website. We look forward to welcoming our visitors back and we thank our community, patients and their families for their support and understanding as we resume visiting while protecting those we serve.

 
 
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