Visiting Restrictions – Partial Lifting Beginning July 26, 2021

July 23, 2021 – Sault Area Hospital (SAH) will be lifting some visitor restrictions on July 26, 2021. Some restrictions for visitors will remain in place to ensure the continued safety of patients, staff, and our community as COVID-19 remains a concern. There will NOT BE a resumption of OPEN visiting at this time.

The updated visitor restrictions provide revised guidance for visiting patients in Intensive Care (ICU), Women & Children’s Health, Inpatient Units, as well as visiting with patients who are palliative.  Guidance for accompanying a patient who is attending an Outpatient Clinic remains the same. 

Visitors will continue not to be allowed to visit individuals in the Emergency Department or COVID-19 patients (suspect or confirmed) except under exceptional circumstances.

Additional visitor guidance can be found on our website; Click here for SAH’s current Visitor Guidance.

Designated visitors are asked to enter the hospital through the main entrance, where they must check in with the door screeners to be screened and must sign in at the nursing station on the unit in the event that contact tracing is required. If you are unsure if you can visit, please contact the unit for further direction before coming to the hospital.

SAH continues to offer virtual visits for inpatients that can be accessed by connecting with the appropriate nursing unit. Those who have access to their own devices are encouraged to connect through Skype, FaceTime, or telephone calls.

Expectations for Visitors:

• Please be aware that visitors from outside of Ontario must follow all travel restrictions and public health measures when coming to Ontario. Canadian COVID-19 Travel Guidance
• Visitors with illness symptoms will not be permitted to visit.
• Visitors must enter through the main lobby for their scheduled visit.
• Visitors must check in with the door screeners. In addition, all visitors must sign in at the nursing station on the unit in the event that contact tracing is required.
• Visitors must follow instructions given by staff; failure to follow instructions may result in a visitor being asked to leave the hospital.
• Visitors are reminded to maintain 2 metres or 6 feet of physical distance with the patient and others at all times.
• Visitors and patients are not permitted to wander on the unit or leave the unit, including accessing common areas of the hospital.
• Visitors must wear masks at all times while in hospital and must wash their hands when entering and leaving a patient’s room. Please note, visitors who are exempt from wearing a mask will not be permitted for in-person visits.  SAH will accommodate virtual visits in these circumstances.  These visitors are asked to contact the appropriate nursing unit to arrange these virtual visits.
• The care team will work with patients to establish an appropriate visiting schedule for the Designated Care Support person for long-stay patients.

SAH remains committed to the safety of our community, our patients, and our people by closely monitoring COVID-19 developments within our community and making decisions based on best practices.

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