Family Presence / Visitation Reminders – South and South Central Saskatchewan

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) remains committed to Safe Family Presence and visitation. Many long-term care (LTC) homes and acute care facilities in south and south central Saskatchewan have moved to the Recovery Phase of Family Presence. The Recovery Phase is intended to be a safe progression towards pre-pandemic Open Family Presence, which welcomed essential family/support persons at any time to support patient care. In the Recovery Phase:

• There are no limits on the number of essential family/support persons or visitors that can be designated for each patient. Patients and families will still be asked to consider limiting the number of individuals who are designated, recognizing that every visit to an acute care facility brings with it the risk of exposure or transmission of COVID-19.   Because children are not able to be vaccinated, there is an increased risk in maternal and children’s units.  We highly recommend limiting the number of designates to no more than four in these areas.
• Two essential family/support persons can be present at the same time indoors.
  • Up to four essential family/support persons can be present at the same time in these areas: intensive care, end-of-life, or palliative care.
• Timing of in-person visits may be subject to the scheduling limitations of the unit. Family/support persons or visitors are encouraged to collaborate with the care team to arrange visits in advance whenever possible.
• There will be no limit on the amount of family/support persons or visitors that can be present at the same time outdoors.

Because transmission of COVID-19 and its variants, like the Delta variant, will continue to pose a risk to staff, physicians, patients, family, and visitors in SHA facilities, each local area will still be closely monitoring transmission. Family presence restrictions will continue to be reviewed weekly and further levels of restriction may need to be reinstated, depending on local transmission rates and hospital capacity.

Anyone planning to visit a Long Term Care home or an Acute Care facility is encouraged to check the current level of Family Presence on the SHA website before visiting.