The Moncton Hospital (Photo TDCB)
Starting today (July 15), patients in New Brunswick hospitals and health care facilities will be able to welcome more visitors for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Horizon and Vitalite Health Networks are now allowing visitors from outside the Atlantic Bubble under certain guidelines.
Infectious disease teams with the two regional health authorities made recommendations for the revisions.
Before entering, Canadian and international visitors from outside the Atlantic Bubble who want to visit a patient in a hospital or health care facility must:
- provide proof of vaccination with two doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine, and it must be at least 14 days after their second dose;
- provide proof of a negative COVID-19 result after entering the province and prior to each visit, and agree to be tested again on days 5 and 10;
- provide proof of travel approval to New Brunswick through the New Brunswick Travel Registration Program;
- provide personal identification (ID) that matches their immunization record and travel registration; and
- follow New Brunswick Public Health measures such as: monitoring for COVID-19 symptoms before each visit, wearing a mask at all times, maintaining physical distancing and cleaning hands frequently.
International travellers are also subject to federal requirements to enter Canada, and where provincial and federal requirements differ, the most stringent requirements must be followed.
Before entering, anyone from a higher risk area within the Atlantic Bubble (i.e. an increase in COVID-19 cases) who wants to visit a patient in a hospital or health care facility must:
- provide proof of vaccination with two doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine, and it must be at least 14 days after their second dose;
- provide proof of a negative COVID-19 result after entering the province and prior to each visit, and agree to be tested again on days 5 and 10;
- provide personal identification (ID) that matches their immunization record and travel registration; and
- follow New Brunswick Public Health measures.
Anyone from outside the Atlantic Bubble who is not vaccinated can visit but only 14 days after entering the province.
All visitors will continue to be screened at the entrances of health care facilities.
Daily visitation hours will run from 2 until 8 p.m.
