Hospital visits suspended in central Nova Scotia due to COVID-19



[ad_1]

The Nova Scotia Health Authority has halted hospital visits in the central area due to the increased number of cases and community spread of COVID-19 in the Halifax area.

Restrictions include NSHA facilities in Halifax Regional Municipality, East Coast and West Coast.

However, up to two people will still be authorized to support patients at the end of life, in palliative care, women in labor and admitted children under 18.

There are also circumstances in which a person can help a patient. They include children in outpatients and those who have physical, intellectual, cognitive and emotional conditions. NSHA also states that people who come for an early labor assessment can bring a person with them as well.

Taken aback

The hiatus in most hospital visits in the central area was announced on Twitter on Friday night, hours after a public briefing with Premier Stephen McNeil and Dr. Robert Strang, which caught some families off guard.

Tim Houston, the leader of the provincial Conservative Progressive Party, criticized the way people were informed and said it should have been announced at the briefing.

“There needs to be a plan in place to ensure that families know what is happening to their loved one in the hospital,” she said in a news release. “I understand the security restrictions, but if families can’t visit, they need a point of contact.”

On Monday, NSHA apologized to patients and their families for the timing.

“This is a very difficult time for everyone and we recognize that the sudden change was a surprise,” he said in a statement.

“Based on the advice and recommendations of our clinical teams, we felt it was important to act quickly. Our priority is to keep COVID-19 out of our hospitals, which, as we have seen in other areas of Canada and around the world, it can have serious implications. “

The health authority said it will continue to monitor case numbers and further changes could be made in the future.

OTHER MAIN STORIES



[ad_2]
Source link