New Liskeard, Ont.: Beginning Wednesday, December 30, 2020, Temiskaming Hospital will be closed to all care partners and visitors with the exception of Essential Care Partners in order to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission as cases continue to increase rapidly in our community and based on the provincial lockdown.

“This difficult decision is intended as a precaution to keep patients and our healthcare teams safe as transmission rates rise within our community,” said Erin Montgomery, Chief Nursing Executive and Director of Patient Services. “Temiskaming Hospital is committed to ensuring the needs of patients and families are met as best as possible while these measures are in place.”

Under the following circumstances an Essential Care Partner may be permitted:

  • Patient who is actively dying;
  • Pregnant patient in labour;
  • One parent/guardian of an ill newborn or pediatric patient (child or youth.)

There will be no visitation for patients who have a confirmed or suspected/probable case of COVID-19.

An Essential Care Partner is a support person whose presence is considered essential to the safety and well-being of a patient while they are in the hospital. They provide essential support for a patient (i.e. pediatric, vulnerable – cognitive impairment, significant developmental and/or intellectual disability, language/communication barriers) and are required to accompany a patient where assistance is required and would be at-risk if alone.

Essential Care Partners permitted to enter the facility will continue to be actively screened for COVID-19. 

Essential Care Partners who are not feeling well should not come to the hospital.

Temiskaming Hospital will continue to monitor COVID-19 activity including community transmission, availability of personal protective equipment and other critical supplies and additional infection prevention and control progressions.

Temiskaming Hospital’s Virtual Visiting Program, which is supported by the Government of Canada's Emergency Community Support Fund and the Temiskaming Foundation, remains available and is encouraged.

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For further information, contact:

Lesley Langford, COVID-19 Media Relations Officer
705.647.1088 extension 2030
lkaross@temiskaming-hospital.com