Ottawa area hospitals gradually welcoming more visitors

July 21, 2020

Ottawa – July 20, 2020 – Hospitals in the Ottawa area are taking a gradual approach to welcoming more visitors. This is in line with guidance from the Ontario Ministry of Health and action hospitals are taking across the province.

For compassionate reasons, University of Ottawa Heart Institute patient care teams will continue to arrange visits from essential caregivers and other visitors.

Visitation will be at the discretion of the unit manager and the patient’s care team.

Please follow the instructions below when you come to the hospital to visit a patient.

  • Wear a face mask. If you do not have a mask, one will be provided. If you cannot wear a face mask, please advise the screening staff at the entrance. 
  • Enter the hospital through the designated patient entrance (40 Ruskin St.) and go through screening. Staff will ask you questions about symptoms, travel history, and contact history. 
  • Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer when you enter and leave the hospital and before and after going into a patient’s room.
  • Whenever possible, maintain two (2) metres (six feet) from others.

Hospital patients are at greater risk for infection as their bodies are already working hard to recover from their illness or injury. When germs are brought into the hospital from a well-meaning family, caregivers or visitors, it puts all hospital patients at risk.