Changes in effect Thursday, November 26, 2020
Due to the rising number of active COVID-19 cases in the Halifax metro area and concerns about community spread, new support person changes are required to continue to provide the safest care possible. We are monitoring the current situation closely and will continue to adjust restrictions accordingly.
We thank patients & families for your cooperation as we work to provide safe care for everyone.
Latest support person restrictions
There are differences in the physical layout where care is being provided. These differences impact our ability to practice appropriate physical distancing therefore we have taken a location-by-location approach to support person restrictions.
| Emergency Department |
1
One support person
|
| Early Labor and Assessment Unit |
1
One support person
|
| Obstetrical Day Unit |
0
No support person
|
| Fetal Assessment and Treatment Centre |
0
No support person
|
| Perinatal Centre |
0
No support person
|
| Birth Unit |
2
Two support people
(Doula is considered one of two support persons) |
| Prenatal Special Care Unit |
1
One support person
|
| Family Newborn Care Unit |
1
One support person
|
| Obstetrical Ultrasound |
1
One support person
|
| Postpartum Clinic |
1
Parent, baby + 1 support person
|
| Neonatal Intensive Care Unit |
2
Two support people
|
| Perinatal Follow Up Clinic |
1
One support person
|
| (for Pandemic Response Unit see category below) | |
| Pediatric Inpatients |
2
Two support people
|
| Pandemic Response Unit |
1
One support person
|
| Adult Surgery Inpatients |
1
One support person
|
| Breast Health Clinic - New Diagnosis |
1
One support person
|
| Breast Health Clinic - Annual Recheck |
0
No support person
|
| Early Pregnancy Complication Clinic |
1
One support person
|
| Women’s/Adult OR / Pre-Admission Clinic |
0
No support person
|
| Ambulatory Clinics |
1
One support person (exception for interventions requiring more)
|
| INPATIENT UNITS & DAY TREATMENT SERVICES | |
| Adolescent Intensive Services |
2
Two support people
|
| Children’s Intensive Services |
2
Two support people
|
| Secure Care Unit |
2
Two support people
|
| Garron Centre |
2
Two support people
|
| Pediatric Outpatient (Ambulatory) / Day Surgery Appointments |
1
One support person
|
| (for pregnant, in labour, delivering or postpartum see category above) | |
| Women’s Ambulatory Clinics |
0
No support person
|
| Perioperative Clinic |
0
No support person
|
| Breast Imaging (IWK 6th floor) |
0
No support person
|
| Breast Biopsy (IWK 6th floor) |
1
One support person
|
| Breast Screening (Halifax Shopping Center, Dartmouth and Cobequid) |
0
No support person
|
| Pediatrics |
1
One support person
|
| Adult Ultrasound |
0
No support person
|
| Obstetric Ultrasound |
1
One support person
|
| All other adult procedures (includes MRI, Nuclear Medicine and Bone Density) |
0
No support person
|
| Pediatric Patients |
1
One support person
|
| Adult Patients |
0
No support person
|
| Pediatric Patients |
1
One support person
|
| Adult Patients |
0
No support person
|
We will be screening at the door to ensure our patients are kept safe.
We must continue to minimize numbers to the health care facilities to protect patients and staff. Please make childcare arrangements for siblings and children not receiving care. Infants who are exclusively breastfeeding are welcome.
We understand the complexity involved in implementing these changes and that some areas may have difficulty accommodating additional support people due to the need to maintain physical distancing requirements. In these cases, care teams will work with families to discuss options based on care needs. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and make additional changes as required.
Patients & Support People from New Brunswick
There are no changes to IWK’s support person restrictions at this time. Scheduled appointments and surgeries are proceeding unless you have been contacted and told otherwise by your health care provider.
Once at the IWK, you will be screened upon entry and patients requiring admission or surgery will be swabbed for COVID-19. While at the IWK support people from NB will be required to self-isolate in the patient room.
With the significant rise in COVID-19 cases in New Brunswick over the past several days in locations across the province, as of 8:00 a.m. on January 9, 2021, Public Health is requiring anyone who has travelled to NB to self-isolate for 14 days upon entry into Nova Scotia. Those with medical appointments will be permitted to cross the border. Please consult the Nova Scotia Public Health website for any border related questions.
Also see:
Up-to-date guidance and information on COVID-19 from the Government of Nova Scotia.
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Find out if you need a COVID-19 test.
