Effective Monday (March 16), Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) has implemented a number of new screening and access measures.
The measures are intended to protect patients, visitors, healthcare professionals, staff, and volunteers in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the first positive case of COVID-19 in the Peterborough area.
Two public entrances to hospital
PRHC will limit public access to the hospital building. Patients and visitors should use one of two public entrances: the Emergency Department (ED) entrance or the Cancer Care entrance (next to the main entrance).
Once construction on the main entrance is complete, it will reopen and the Cancer Care entrance will be closed to public access.
PRHC healthcare professionals and staff will have separate designated entrances available 24/7 by secure card access.
All other entrances will be closed until further notice.
Active screening of patients and visitors at public entrances
All PRHC patients and visitors will be screened at the two public entrances.
Anyone with symptoms and travel history that indicate they may be at risk of having the virus will receive direction from the screener, and may be directed away from the hospital or advised to contact Telehealth Ontario or Peterborough Public Health for additional information and direction.
This process is intended to keep everyone safe within the hospital.
Patients asked to delay non-urgent appointments, procedures, or visits
PRHC is asking people to delay coming to the hospital for any non-urgent appointments, procedures, or visits.
One visitor allowed per patient
Visitors will be limited to one person per patient.
Exceptions may be made for patients in palliative care.
PRHC volunteers to be removed from hospital
Out of an abundance of precaution, all PRHC volunteers will be removed from areas of service throughout PRHC.
Procedure to follow if you suspect you may have COVID-19
If you suspect you might have COVID-19, do not come to the PRHC Emergency Department.
Instead, complete the COVID-19 self-assessment at ontario.ca/coronavirus.
Based on the results of your self-assessment, contact Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000 or Peterborough Public Health at 705-743-1000 ext. 401.
If your symptoms are severe, call 911 and alert the dispatcher to your travel history and symptoms
More information on COVID-19
For the most recent information on COVID-19 in Ontario and the Peterborough area, visit ontario.ca/coronavirus or peterboroughpublichealth.ca.
PRHC is also providing news, updates, information and resources on its website at prhc.on.ca/cms/covid-19-novel-coronavirus.
