Collingwood General and Marine Hospital will consider a mandatory vaccine policy for visitors, but has not committed to implementing one at this time.
Hospital communications officer, Lisa van Kolfschoten, said in an email the hospital is consulting with stakeholders regarding a potential updated visitor policy requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination or exemption.
"CGMH endeavours to keep all of its patients and employees safe," said van Kolfschoten.
The hospital does have a vaccine policy for staff, requiring them all to be fully vaccinated or provide proof of medical exemption by Nov. 30.
In Simcoe County, most hospitals have already announced a mandatory proof-of-vaccination against COVID-19 policy for visitors.
Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre will require its visitors to show proof or exemption from vaccination as of Nov. 15.
Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital will require visitors to prove their fully vaccinated status or exemption by Nov. 23.
The visitor vaccination policy at Georgian Bay General Hospital in Midland goes into effect also on Nov. 15.
Grey Bruce Health Services recently announced they too will be implementing a mandatory vaccine requirement for visitors to their hospitals, which are located in Owen Sound, Meaford, Markdale, Southampton, Wiarton, and Lion's Head. They will also be requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination or exemption by Nov. 15.
For all those visitor vaccination policies, special permission can be granted for a visitor or designated caregiver without proof of vaccination or exemption if the patient they are accompanying or visiting is a child, is palliative/end-of-life, is in labour, is experiencing a life-altering or critical illness identified by the clinical team, or if the patient requires a support person due to an underlying condition.
These vaccination policies do not apply to patients. Anyone who needs medical care, or has an appointment, should not delay, regardless of vaccination status, according to the hospital's communications on the matter.
Collingwood General and Marine Hospital currently is limiting visitors and essential caregivers to one per patient in the emergency room, for long- and short-stay patients requiring transition support or ready for discharge, and for outpatients.
The hospital allows up to two visitors at a time for the following patients:
- children under 18 years old,
- end-of-life patients,
- life-altering diagnosis patients,
- major-surgery patients,
- critically-ill patients,
- cognitive-impairment patients,
- patients who are unable to effectively communicate, and
- childbirth patients.
You can read the full CGMH visitor policy on the hospital website here.
