Horizon hospitals and health care facilities to maintain visitor restrictions during return to Orange alert level next week October 29, 2021 In response to the decreasing number of new and active COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, including ICU admissions, across most of New Brunswick all Horizon hospitals and health care facilities will return to our Orange alert level protocols on Monday, Nov. 1. This will be in place for at least two weeks and will be reassessed at this time. However, for the time being, we will maintain our Red alert level visitor restrictions. This will provide us time to ensure COVID-19 cases continue to decrease and that we have stable staffing resources to continue all services – from ambulatory care clinic visits to urgent and complex medical emergencies. This means there will be NO VISITORS ALLOWED. Some exceptions to these visitor restrictions are in place for patients who are eligible for a designated support person. More information on visitor restrictions is available on our website. “We understand restricting social visitation is difficult for our patients and loved ones, but this precaution remains necessary to limit the risk of COVID-19 spread in our facilities, especially as there are still local outbreaks and community transmission throughout the province,” said Dr. John Dornan, Horizon’s interim president and CEO. All patients, clients and support persons will continue to be screened for COVID-19 symptoms and asked a series of questions upon entry to our facilities. Horizon’s priority remains ensuring essential, urgent and emergency services are maintained for its patients and clients while keeping its staff, physicians and communities safe. Horizon thanks the public and its dedicated staff and physicians for their work and cooperation in limiting the spread of COVID-19 in our facilities and throughout our province during the fourth wave. – 30 – For more information contact: Kris McDavidMedia RelationsHorizon Health Network1-877-499-1899Media@HorizonNB.cawww.HorizonNB.ca