According to Alberta Health Services, visitor restrictions at acute care, ambulatory care, urgent care, and emergency care sites have now been rescinded. This includes removing limits to visitation and limits to the number of designated family/support persons and visitors permitted per patient.
"Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, access restrictions at AHS sites have been in place to limit the number of visitors and designated family/support persons permitted in healthcare settings. While these limits have been necessary to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19, we understand how challenging they have been for patients and their families," stated a press release by AHS.
However, while most sites will be able to accommodate open access for visitors and designated family/support persons, it is essential to know that some healthcare settings may need to impose access limits due to the vulnerability of their patients, or in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak.
"There may also be limits on how many people can be in an area at one time in order to maintain physical distancing requirements. If you are planning to come to the site to see a patient, speak with the site or patient’s care team beforehand to find out if any access limits are in place."
AHS is also reminding the public that because healthcare facilities are vulnerable environments, certain measures must remain in place for the safety of patients, staff, and all on-site.
"Anyone entering must continue to follow precautions such as continuous masking, entry screening, physical distancing, and hand hygiene."
The announcement comes days after AHS announced that their healthcare workers will no longer be required to be immunized for COVID-19 as a condition of employment. The rescinding of the immunization mandate also extends to new hires and students.
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