To help keep patients, residents, and staff safe and healthy, visitors with COVID-19 symptoms (or any flu or cold symptoms) are asked not to visit patients or residents in care facilities. 

If you have symptoms like fever, new or worsening cough, sore throat, acute loss of sense of smell or taste, new onset of muscle aches, or other symptoms (gov.nl.ca/covid-19) please delay your visit and call 8-1-1.

For individuals presenting for an appointment or routine service:

• If you have any one or more symptom(s) of COVID-19, please do not enter a health-care facility.
  • Please stay home.
  • Call ahead to cancel/reschedule your appointment.
  • Complete an online assessment or call 8-1-1.

Masking 

• Masking is currently encouraged for visitors and support persons in all clinical settings, including while visiting patients and residents and in waiting areas for health-care services/appointments. 
• Individuals who are seeking or receiving health-care services who are symptomatic (i.e. experiencing any one or more symptoms of COVID-19 or respiratory symptoms) are required to wear a mask upon entry and while inside the health-care facility. Visitors/support persons who are feeling unwell or sick should not visit patients/residents or accompany others to appointments. 
• Individuals can wear their own medical mask or a mask provided at the health-care facility.  

Masking requirements are in place at hospitals, long-term care facilities and health-care facilities throughout the region.

Masking recommendations for health-care facilities for the 2023-24 fall/winter respiratory season are as follows: 

• Masking is currently encouraged for visitors and support persons in all clinical settings, including while visiting patients and residents and in waiting areas for health-care services/appointments. 
• Additional masking protocols may be implemented if there is an outbreak at a facility; visitors/support persons should check with the care team in these situations for the required personal protective equipment. 
• NL Health Services will continue to monitor epidemiology, hospitalizations and outbreaks and masking guidelines will be re-evaluated March 31, 2024. 

Reminders:  

• Individuals who are seeking or receiving health-care services who are symptomatic (i.e. experiencing any one or more symptoms of COVID-19 or respiratory symptoms) are required to wear a mask upon entry and while inside the health-care facility. Visitors/support persons who are feeling unwell or sick should not visit patients/residents or accompany others to appointments.  
• Visitors/support persons are also asked to consider the safety of those you are visiting. It can be especially important to wear a mask if you are around others who are at risk of more severe disease and outcomes, including those with chronic conditions, compromised immune systems and older adults or young children. 
• Masks continue to be available at health-care facilities across the province. Individuals can wear their own medical mask or a mask provided at the health-care facility. 

Visitors/support persons can also complete the below self-screening prior to arrival at the health-care facility.

Visitor/Support Person: COVID-19/Respiratory Illness Screening

1. Do you have any one or more of the following symptoms?

• Fever (including chills/sweats).
• New onset of muscle aches.
• Vomiting or diarrhea for more than 24 hours.

New or worsening:

• Cough.
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
• Runny, stuffy or congested nose (not related to seasonal allergies or other known causes/conditions).
• Sore throat or difficulty swallowing.
• Headache.
• Acute loss of sense of smell or taste.
• Unusual fatigue, lack of energy.
• Loss of appetite.

If yes, do not visit.

2. Are you self-isolating (including modified self-isolation)?

If yes, do not visit (except in specific situations for labour and delivery and end-of-life visitation, and only in consultation with the clinical care team).

All visitors/support persons must:

• Perform hand hygiene.
• Follow all guidelines for the unit/area you are visiting. (Visitation policy: Two people may visit at the same time).

Patient Screening: Patients, residents and clients are screened at point of registration. The COVID-19/respiratory illness screening tool allows for any necessary precautions (e.g. personal protective equipment and isolation protocols) to be put in place, as required, to help protect patients, staff and physicians as they provide health-care services. Patients are directed to contact the relevant clinic prior to arriving for their appointment at an Eastern Health hospital or facility if they are experiencing one or more symptoms of COVID-19 or are self-isolating

COVID-19 Testing

All patients requiring hospital admission as well as patients who receive health-care services in hospitals, health-care centres/clinics and via home visits from Eastern Health staff, will be screened for COVID-19/respiratory symptoms via the triage risk assessment screening tool. Individuals who have symptoms will be assessed via the screening tool and will be tested, as needed.