Visitor restrictions will be reintroduced from Boxing Day in a bid to help protect vulnerable patients and staff at Canberra’s public and private health facilities as Covid cases increase across the ACT, Canberra Health Services (CHS) announced today.

From 12.01am on 26 December, Canberra’s health facilities will reintroduce a no-visitor policy to help protect vulnerable patients and staff.

In a statement, CHS media said the decision to tighten restrictions is a very difficult one, especially at this time of year. However, as the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve across the ACT and surrounding NSW, we need to protect the health and safety of everyone in our community, the statement said.

Visitor restrictions will apply to all hospitals, community health centres and walk-in centres in the ACT.

As of 12.01am on 26 December 2021, no visitors will be permitted to enter health care facilities other than in exceptional circumstances such as end-of-life, birthing, or for paediatric care.

Visitors are strongly encouraged to keep in touch with patients via phone and/or video calls.

CHS CEO Dave Peffer said he understands the visitor restrictions are disappointing at Christmas time.

“We’re very aware that the holiday season is a time for coming together and celebrating with our friends and family, and the change to visitor restrictions will be upsetting news to many,” Mr Peffer said.

“That is why we’ve taken the decision to further tighten visitor restrictions only after Christmas Day. 

“We are constantly reviewing these difficult restrictions and will make changes as soon as it is safe to do so.”

Mr Peffer said there had been several exposures in health care settings in recent weeks.

“These exposures not only present a risk to the safety of vulnerable patients, health care workers and visitors, they also result in team members spending time in quarantine rather than at work caring for our patients.

“This places a huge strain on health care delivery. The impact of furloughing is being seen across the nation, particularly in NSW. We need to put measures in place to keep our team members at work.

“Our staff will apply this visitor policy with compassion and common sense. Exceptions for compassionate reasons will be determined on a case-by-case basis. These decisions will be made in consultation with the relevant clinical staff.”

From today until midnight on Christmas Day, patients will continue to be permitted to have two visitors per day.

Mr Peffer said children under 12 years should continue to avoid visiting health facilities where possible.

Exceptions to the no-visitor policy will include admitted babies, children and young people (0-17 years), who may have one parent/carer per day.

Women admitted for care related to birthing may have one person for the duration of their admission.

Patients attending an outpatient and/or a community health clinic should, where possible, attend alone. If patients require a support person, this should be limited to one person.

Carers will also be able to continue supporting people they care for who need assistance to access hospital care, including in the Emergency Department, but this should be limited to one person.

In addition, all visitors to ACT health facilities must continue to:

• complete the ACT health facilities digital screening tool (screening.covid19.act.gov.au)
• wear a surgical face mask at all times while in the health facility
• maintain social and physical distancing
• practise good hand hygiene and respiratory hygiene
• stay at home if unwell and get tested for COVID-19, even if experiencing mild symptoms.

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