Visitation Program
Visitation Guidelines
From the BC Centre for Disease Control (http://www.bccdc.ca/health-professionals/clinical-resources/covid-19-care/clinical-care/long-term-care-facilities-assisted-living)
Proof of vaccination
- All visitors to long-term care, assisted living, and acute care facilities will need to show proof that they are fully vaccinated with two doses of COVID-19 vaccine (excluding children under the age of 12 or those with an approved medical exemption and compassionate visits related to end of life).
Screening
- Visitors must be screened for signs and symptoms of illness prior to every visit. Visitors with signs or symptoms of illness, as well as those in self-isolation or quarantine in accordance with public health directives, are not permitted to visit.
Rapid antigen testing
- All long-term care visitors who are 12 years of age and older must also complete a rapid antigen test. They have the options of using a take home test kit, available through the facility and community pharmacies, within 48 hours of their visit or undergo testing at the entrance.
- Visitors to standalone seniors’ assisted living residences are not required to undergo rapid antigen testing. However, if a seniors’ assisted living residence is part of a campus of care with long-term care where there is a common entrance and/or hallways, visitors (12 or older) to seniors’ assisted living may be required to undergo rapid antigen testing.
Visiting hours
- Operators may designate visiting hours in order to ensure there is adequate staff to support safe visiting practices.
Masks
- All visitors to long-term care and seniors’ assisted living sites are required to wear a medical mask in hallways, common areas and multiple occupancy rooms (long-term care).
- Masks are not required when fully vaccinated visitors are visiting residents in single occupancy rooms or seniors’ assisted living units.
Gatherings
- Outdoor gatherings may include fully vaccinated family and friends who have met the requirements for visitation (e.g. no symptoms of illness, fully vaccinated, rapid antigen testing for long-term care facilities).
Hand hygiene
- Visitors and residents are expected to clean hands before and after visiting, practice hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette – i.e. cough or sneeze into elbows sleeves and dispose used tissues properly.
