Proof of vaccination

• All visitors to long-term care, assisted living, and acute care facilities will need to show proof that they are fully vaccinated with two doses of COVID-19 vaccine (excluding children under the age of 12 or those with an approved medical exemption or providing an essential visit).
  

Screening

• Visitors must be screened for signs and symptoms of illness prior to every visit. Visitors with signs or symptoms of illness, as well as those in self-isolation or quarantine in accordance with public health directives, are not permitted to visit.

Rapid antigen testing

• All long-term care visitors who are 12 years of age and older must also complete a rapid antigen test. They have the options of using a take home test kit, available through the facility and community pharmacies, within 48 hours of their visit or undergo testing at the entrance. 
• Visitors to standalone seniors’ assisted living residences are not required to undergo rapid antigen testing. However, if a seniors’ assisted living residence is part of a campus of care with long-term care where there is a common entrance and/or hallways, visitors (12 or older) to seniors’ assisted living may be required to undergo rapid antigen testing.
  

• Operators may designate visiting hours in order to ensure there is adequate staff to support safe visiting practices.

Masks

• All visitors to long-term care and seniors’ assisted living sites are required to wear a medical mask in hallways, common areas and multiple occupancy rooms (long-term care). 
• Masks are not required when fully vaccinated visitors are visiting residents in single occupancy rooms or seniors’ assisted living units. 
  

• Indoor and outdoor gatherings may include fully vaccinated family and friends who have met the requirements for visitation (e.g. no symptoms of illness, fully vaccinated, rapid antigen testing for long-term care facilities).
  

• Visitors and residents are expected to clean hands before and after visiting, practice hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette - i.e. cough or sneeze into elbows sleeves and dispose used tissues properly.
  

Every resident in a long-term care and seniors’ assisted living site can identify a single designated visitor who may continue to visit the resident at times when visitation is restricted. Single designated visitors are permitted in a care home/residence that has an active COVID-19 outbreak, under guidance and direction from the local medical health officer.