Veterans Centre and Palliative Care Unit - COVID-19 Information

General visitors, including children, may visit.

• All visitors still need to wear a mask when in direct contact with a patient or resident, or an area where patients or residents may gather (except for visitors under 2 years of age, and when consuming food at Sunny’s cafeteria, the Johnny Bower Arms Pub, or outdoor areas).
• All visitors must pass self-screening questions (please see screening questions below).

Self-Screening Questions for All Visitors

1. Do you have one or more of the following symptoms that are new or worsening? ☐ Yes ☐ No

• Fever/chills/body aches
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy/congested nose
• Headache
• Nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea

2. In the last 10 days, have you tested positive for COVID-19? ☐ Yes ☐ No

3. In the last 10 days, have you been identified as a “close contact” of someone, or do you live with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, or has symptoms of COVID-19? ☐ Yes ☐ No

If you answered NO to all questions from 1 through 3, you may visit the Veterans Centre. You must wear a mask if in direct contact with a patient or resident, or in an area where patients or residents may gather (e.g. Warriors Hall).

If you answered YES to ANY question from 1 through 3, DO NOT ENTER the Veterans Centre. Please follow the detailed instructions below:

If you answered Yes to question 1:

You must not enter the Veterans Centre. You should stay home (self-isolate) until you do not have a fever and your symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours (48 hours for nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea). You need to do a COVID-19 test. If you test positive for COVID-19, you should not enter the Veterans Centre for at least 10 days after developing symptoms.

If you answered Yes to Question 2:

You must not enter the Veterans Centre. You should stay home and not visit the Veterans Centre until 10 days after developing symptoms.

If you answered Yes to Question 3:

You must not enter the Veterans Centre. You should not visit for 10 days after your exposure to the person with symptoms of COVID-19. You should monitor yourself for symptoms of COVID-19.

Visitors may remove their masks to consume food or beverages at Sunny’s café, the Johnny Bower Arms Pub and the K-wing garden only.

Visitors cannot consume food or drinks in any other indoor spaces (i.e. Warriors Hall and resident rooms).

Only 2 designated Essential Care Partners are permitted to visit a resident who is positive for COVID-19.

Please stay home if someone in your household tests positive for COVID- 19. As we are considered a high-risk setting, if someone in your household tests positive for COVID- 19, we ask you not to visit for 10 days from the last day of your contact with the positive individual.

If a unit is on Suspect Outbreak (1 case) or Confirmed Outbreak (2 or more cases), only 2 designated Essential Care Partners (visitors) are able to visit. The two Essential Care Partners must remain the same two people for the duration of the outbreak and are not interchangeable.

We welcome visitors to the Palliative Care Unit; the following guidelines currently are in place:

• Two visitors are permitted at the bedside at a time.
• Visitors must wear a mask at the bedside at all times, including when you are in direct patient contact or in an area where patients may gather (e.g. Patient Lounge).
• Visitors must enter K-Wing East entrance for the visit.
• Visitors must pass screening and obtain a visitor badge
• No eating or drinking in patient rooms, common areas, or waiting rooms. Eating and drinking is permitted in the family kitchen, M and E Wing Cafeterias, Sunny’s café, and outside.
• Public washrooms located in the K1C lounge area are for visitor use. Please do not use patient washrooms or shower rooms.
• Do not visit if you are unwell. Stay home if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or any other respiratory illness.

• Two visitors are permitted to visit a patient at a time. Multiple visitors are allowed in the building but only two visitors may be at the bedside at a time. The unit does reserve the right to limit the number of visitors i.e. if this interferes with unit function, patient care. Additional visitors may wait in the designated waiting area by the Palliative entrance screener’s desk (on the Ground floor) or one visitor may be accommodated in the Palliative Care Unit family kitchen.
• Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. An adult and a child are considered as one visitor.
• A garden area is designated for our palliative patients and families, accessed through the K1W elevator. For more information, please discuss with your health care provider.
• Pets are allowed to visit, in line with our pet visitation policy (pets to remain on a leash, visit in the patient room on the unit or outdoors, utilize a short leash and be in control at all times, proof of vaccination must be produced if requested).

8 a.m. to 8 p.m.