Saskatchewan is planning to ease back in visitation at long term care homes, allowing residents and loved ones to safely spend more time together.
With vaccination continuing to escalate in these homes, the province plans to begin allowing visits again on the 29th of April. At that time, the process will begin to allow home visitation by an unlimited number of family members or support people, two at a time.
For outdoor visits, four will be allowed at a time, and fully vaccinated residents who go on outings will no longer be required to quarantine upon their return to a home.
Family and support persons visiting and the fully vaccinated residents will still have to follow all public health guidelines both on and off the facility.
This is contingent on if at least 90 per cent of residents have been fully vaccinated and three weeks have gone by since the last second dose vaccinations. The Saskatchewan Health Authority is beginning the process of notifying long-term care homes when they are eligible to ease visitor restrictions.
The SHA’s Medical Health Officers can also maintain restrictions if need be, based on considerations like the local COVID-19 context, community transmission and the number of cases within a home.
Mental Health and Addictions, Seniors and Rural and Remote Health Minister Everett Hindley says taking a gradual approach allows them to prioritize health with much-needed contact with loved ones.
There are almost 160 long-term care homes and about 250 personal care homes in Saskatchewan.