British Columbia is easing the restrictions on visits to long-term care homes.
Starting April 1, all residents in long-term care and assisted living will be able to have frequent, routine opportunities for social visitation.
The eased restrictions include:
- removing the requirement for a single designated social visitor to allow for additional family and friends to visit long-term care and assisted living residents;
- expanding the number of visitors so up to two visitors, plus a child, will be allowed to visit at a time, allowing people to connect in small groups;
- changing the allowable location of visits so family and friends can visit in residents’ rooms without staff present; and
- allowing physical touch between visitors and residents, provided appropriate infection prevention and control measures, like masks and hand hygiene, are in place.
Previously, visitors could not have any physical contact with a long-term care resident.
Social visits will still require advanced booking, screening and use of masks.
“This pandemic has taken an incredible toll on people in long-term care and on their loved ones,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “We are grateful for the sacrifices people living and working in long-term care and their families have made to keep one another safe. With vaccines bringing an important layer of protection for everyone in our province, it is a safe time to ease visitor restrictions and support safe social connections for people in long-term care.”
Provincial officials say over 90 per cent of staff and residents in assisted living and long-term care have received the Covid vaccine.
Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, also announced Thursday they are working on a variance to the gathering and events order to allow indoor faith and religious gatherings on four days between March 29 and May 13, a time that covers many of the important holidays for faith groups. She said the maximum capacity will be 50 people, or ten per cent of the available space, whichever is less.