Bluewater Health is implementing new restrictions in its emergency departments (EDs) to respond to an increase in hospital visitors and rising COVID cases locally.
Pediatric patients and critically ill/disabled/cognitively challenged patients in the emergency department will be limited to one designated care partner. All other ED patients in Sarnia and Petrolia will not be permitted a designated care partner.
In a media release Thursday, Bluewater Health Chief of Communications Julia Oosterman said currently, the Sarnia ED is consistently seeing a 20 per cent increase in daily visitors from an average day.
"Of these visitors, many are presenting symptomatic and/or COVID positive. Due to the increase in volumes, both Bluewater Health EDs are struggling to maintain social distancing in our waiting rooms."
Oosterman said the situation will be re-assessed regularly and any future changes to the hospital's emergency department designated care partner policy will be communicated.
The changes only apply to the emergency departments in Petrolia and Sarnia and not to the hospital in-patient units.
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