Patients in Saskatoon’s hospitals will soon be able to have more visitors.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority announced Monday that Royal University Hospital, St. Paul’s Hospital and Saskatoon City Hospital will move from Level 2 family visitation to Level 1 starting Wednesday at 8 a.m.
The change was made due to decreasing numbers of new COVID-19 cases in the city.
“This change does not apply to units experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak where additional visitor restrictions apply to keep everyone safe,” the authority said in a media release.
“The SHA is working towards expanding family presence in our three Emergency Departments but family presence is currently dependant on physical capacity in the space and is determined by number of patients waiting in the department.
The changes apply for fully vaccinated and unvaccinated patients.
Moving to Level 1 family presence means all patients can now have two different support people visit them.
Even with the easing of visitation restrictions, only one person is allowed to be with a patient at a time.
Two or more visitors will be allowed at the same time if the patient is in intensive care or end of life care, or in the maternal, postpartum or paediatric units.
Family members and support people who are allowed to enter must undergo a health screening prior to entering, which includes a temperature check and questionnaire.
The family member or support person will be required to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer when entering and leaving the patient’s room, as well as wear a mask. Visitors will not be allowed to wait in waiting rooms or other common areas.