WEARING A MASK IS STILL REQUIRED TO ENTER SUNNYBROOK. VISITORS AND PATIENTS MUST ALSO BE ASYMPTOMATIC & SHOULD BE FULLY VACCINATED. »

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Emergency Department visitor information

Changes in effect Oct 27, 2022

The Emergency Department (ED) carefully considers its approach to visitors, balancing safety, compassion, and physical space limitations. We know that visitors and essential care partners are important to our patients.

Each patient in our ED is allowed one visitor at a time. The visitor must be masked, and have no symptoms of COVID-19. If a second person wishes to visit the patient, the first visitor must first leave. One exception is if a patient is at the end of their life (less than 72 hours life expectancy), they may have up to 2 visitors at the bedside at one time.

Due to physical space limitations, and to decrease the risk to our patients and staff, the following protocols apply:

  • Visitors must remain in their patient’s room/area.
  • We cannot guarantee a chair for visitors, who may be asked to stand.
  • In situations where an area of the ED is very crowded, visitors in that area may be asked to wait in the waiting room after the initial physician assessment.

All visitors must wear a mask continuously and properly, covering both mouth and nose, without exception. Please note that visitors are not allowed to eat/drink in the ED, as this would require lowering the mask (visitors may leave to eat/drink in the cafeteria and then return).

If a patient is known to have active, confirmed, COVID-19, they are permitted one visitor, however the visitor must meet the following criteria:

  • The visitor must have no symptoms of COVID-19.
  • The visitor must have had no known contact with a positive case of COVID-19 in the last 10 days, including the person they are visiting.

If a patient is admitted to hospital, but remains in the ED, then visiting hours of 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. apply. That means that visitors must leave from 8 p.m. to 10 a.m.

Once a patient moves from the ED to an inpatient area, different rules may apply. The most up to date rules can be found at: https://sunnybrook.ca/COVID19.

Visitors who are not in compliance with the requirements outlined above will be required to leave. We have a zero tolerance policy for violence or harassment in the ED.