Admitted patients can now welcome ONE social visitor or DSP at a time in Horizon hospitals and health care facilities

HORIZON – Effective today, admitted patients in Horizon hospitals and health care facilities can welcome ONE healthy social visitor or ONE healthy Designated Support Person (DSP) at a time.

Visiting hours for social visitors are 2 to 8 p.m., daily. Hours for DSPs are flexible and are determined in discussion with health care staff. 

A social visitor is different from a DSP. A social visitor is not essential and is not involved in supporting the patient or assisting with emotional or physical support, patient care or decision making.

Under the new guidelines, all social visitors to Horizon facilities must:

• Monitor themselves for COVID-19 symptoms before each visit and take part in active screening prior to entering
• Be fully vaccinated against COVID-19
• Wear a mask at all times
• Maintain physical distancing and clean their hands frequently during visits
• Limit their interactions with staff, and other patients and visitors
• Leave the patient’s room when staff are conducting procedures

At any time, staff may restrict the number of visitors in an area or the length of visits to ensure guidelines are adhered to.

No social visitation is permitted for patients on outbreak units or units under investigation for potential outbreaks.

Full details on Horizon’s visitor guidelines can be found here.

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