The Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District has imposed further restrictions on visiting hospital patients, in a bid to minimise the spread of COVID-19 from Tuesday.
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There will be restricted hours for essential visits to patients in general wards at all of the district's hospitals.
Patients can only have one visitor per day, for no more than one hour. Visiting will only be permitted between 11am-12pm and 4pm-5pm.
No patients will be allowed to visit the COVID-19 ward, COVID-19 ICU or COVID-19 results pending patients.
The health district is working to make iPads available so technology including Skype and Facetime may be used in lieu of physical visits.
Visiting end of life patients who have COVID-19 will be under strictly enforced precautionary protocols, including supervised application of PPE.
Non-COVID end of life patients have no visitor limit or time restriction.
Only one person per patient is allowed during labour and in the maternity unit, and no children under 16 are permitted.
One parent is allowed, with no time restriction, in the paediatrics unit, with no children under 16 permitted.
Visitors with physical and/or cognitive impairment will be considered on a case basis by the nursing team.
The district has reminded people to not visit patients in hospital if they have a fever or a cold and flu-like illness; have been overseas in the last 14 days; or have been in contact in the last 14 days with anyone who has COVID-19.
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