LTC Visitor_Absences_Social Gatherings Snapshot_June 3 2021_Final.pdf

As June 9th, here are some of the key changes regarding visits and social interactions in our Long-Term Care Homes. 

Additional Requirements for Essential Caregivers

• Regardless of resident and visitor vaccination status, brief hugs can now take place. Where both the resident and visitors are fully immunized close physical contact, including handholding, can now take place safely.
• It continues to be important that residents and visitors continue to adhere to public health measures in the home, including good hand hygiene and appropriate masking.

Additional Requirements for General Visitors

• Regardless of resident and visitor vaccination status, brief hugs can now take place. Where both the resident and visitors are fully immunized close physical contact, including handholding, can now take place safely.
• Proof of vaccination for a General Visitor must be presented to the screening staff of the home and recorded.

Note - for individuals vaccinated in Ontario, the only acceptable proof of vaccination is presenting the actual or copy of the physical or electronic receipt provided by the Ministry of Health to each person who has been vaccinated in Ontario. Individuals who misplace their receipt can obtain a replacement copy of logging into the provincial portal. For individuals vaccinated outside of Ontario, Homes must ensure the proof being provided by the other jurisdiction is valid and that the vaccine administered is one of the ones that has been approved by Health Canada.

• It continues to be important that residents and visitors continue to adhere to public health measures in the home, including good hand hygiene and appropriate masking.
• General visitors must visit residents outdoors. General visitors are not allowed beyond entry points/areas in the home. This includes during periods of inclement weather General visitors are not required to undergo rapid antigen test as their visit will be outdoors.

Outdoor visiting may not be conducive to all, Residents with mobility limitations or health conditions (essentially, factors unrelated to weather) that make participating in outdoor visits highly unlikely or impossible may have one (1) general visitor at a time inside the long-term care home, in addition to an essential caregiver.

• The general visitor must participate in surveillance testing for indoor visits
  

• . Regardless of resident and visitor vaccination status, brief hugs can now take place. Where both the resident and visitors are fully immunized close physical contact, including handholding, can now take place safely.
• Proof of vaccination for a General Visitor must be presented to the screening staff of the home and recorded.

• It continues to be important that residents and visitors continue to adhere to public health measures in the home, including good hand hygiene and appropriate masking.