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Media Contacts

Ministry of Health

Communications
250 952-1887 (media line)

Backgrounders

Guidelines to protect residents, workers and visitors at care homes

In March 2020, the Ministry of Health required all long-term care and seniors’ assisted living operators in B.C. to restrict visitors to essential visits only to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

The new requirements issued on June 30, 2020, will allow for family and social visits when facility operators have a written plan to ensure:

  • There is no active COVID-19 outbreak at the care home or residence.
  • Social visits are scheduled in advance between the visitor and facility.
  • There is a maximum of one designated close family or friend per resident, if sufficient space exists to ensure physical distancing requirement.
  • Residents will meet their visitor in the designated location. The three key locations are:
    • outdoor locations dedicated to visiting when the weather permits;
    • indoor designated locations; and,
    • individual single-client room for residents with limited mobility.
  • There is clear signage to help families and residents to have a safe and successful visit.
  • Screening for symptoms of illness, including COVID- 19, occurs prior to every visit.
  • Visitors are instructed when to perform hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette and safe physical distancing.
  • Visitors must bring and wear a mask.
  • Visitors are instructed on how to put on and remove any required personal protective equipment when visiting or caring for residents who have respiratory symptoms.
  • Visitors go directly to the person they are visiting and exit the facility directly after their visit.
  • There are adequate numbers of designated staff to provide pre-screening, screening on arrival, provide information on infection prevention and control for the visit, monitor the visit and monitor leaving of the residence.
  • All furniture and surfaces in the visit area are sanitized at the end of each visit. Time should be allowed for sanitizing visitor areas and supporting residents to move to and from the visiting area between visits.