Local Long Term Care Homes Tightening Access

If you have a relative or a loved one in a local care home effective 4 pm (January 6th) today there will be tightened visitor restrictions.

With the rise of the Omicrom variant the Saskatchewan Health Authority Is instituting  Level 1 for Family Presence Restrictions due to increased community transmission of the COVID-19 Omicron variant.

Presently there are declared outbreaks listed at Extendicare (January 5th), Christian Horizon Group Home (January 5th), Chez Nous (January 3rd) and Pioneer Lodge - Prairie View and Golden Road (December 30th, 2021).

The restriction will be reviewed in two weeks time. The Level 1 restrictions will be extended at that time if warranted in Long Term Care homes.

All homes will return to Recovery Phase family presence as soon as possible, the SHA said in a release.

Current family presence restrictions for LTC Homes can be found here.

Level 1 means that:

  • Each resident can designate two consistent essential family/support persons. One person can be present at a time indoors.

  • No limit on persons present at a time outdoors.

  • More than two essential family/support persons can be designated for patients in these areas: end-of-life or palliative care.

  • Two essential family/support persons can be present at the same time in these areas; end-of-life or palliative care.

Reminder that proof of vaccination for Family/Support Person(s) and Visitors is now required.

Anyone entering a Long Term Care home (including affiliates) needs to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or negative COVID-19 PCR or Antigen test result taken within the last 72 hours (a list of places to get this test is available on the Government of Saskatchewan website.

You will also need one piece of photo ID or two pieces of non-photo ID.

In the event there is no option for a vaccinated essential family/support person, one essential support person can be exempt from showing proof of a negative test from a third-party provider.

The one person exempt from showing a negative test will need to show exemption proof provided from the Long Term Care home.

This exemption is not for general visitors.

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