As the number of COVID-19 cases in Haliburton County is low and with some restrictions being lifted by the Province of Ontario, Haliburton Highlands Health Services has updated its visitor policy, effective today (June 10).

Everyone entering our facilities will continue to be actively screened for COVID-19 symptoms, and

visitors to Long-Term Care and the in-patient department will be rapid tested. If the screening is failed or the test is positive, visitors will not be permitted to enter our facilities as per our current practice, with case-by-case exceptions for visitors to patients receiving end-of-life care.

Proof of vaccination will no longer be required for general visitors to HHHS including Long-Term Care, however essential caregivers will continue to require proof of vaccination.

There are also some changes being made to the number of visitors allowed in different facilities:

• Emergency departments: remains at one visitor

• In-patient department: up to four designated visitors, up to two at a time

• Long-Term Care: up to four essential caregivers, with up to four visitors at a time

Given that Ontario still requires masking in Long-Term Care facilities and strongly recommends masking in hospitals, and because our facilities serve many people who are vulnerable to infection, HHHS will continue to require masking across all of our facilities. HHHS will continue to monitor the local COVID-19 situation as well as further direction from the province in the weeks and months ahead, and may update our visitor policies again. We strongly encourage all eligible community members to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to help protect our patients, residents, staff, and physicians.

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