Hospitals included are: Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Prince County Hospital, Western Hospital, Community Hospital O’Leary, Stewart Memorial Hospital, Kings County Memorial Hospital, Souris Hospital and Hillsborough Hospital.

The following temporary changes to visitor guidelines were put in place on November 3:

• No visitors under the age of 18 years.

• No more than 2 designated visitors per patient may visit during that patient’s stay in hospital.

Patients are asked to identify two persons to designate as visitors during their stay in hospital. Designated visitors who are experiencing influenza-like illness - cough with or without fever, accompanied by either a sore throat, sore muscles, achy joints or extreme fatigue - are asked to refrain from visiting patients at the hospital until they are symptom-free.

Compassionate exceptions will be made to the temporary visitor guidelines on an individual patient basis and will be done in consultation with the patient and their health care team.

In addition to the temporary changes to visitor guidelines, individuals who are experiencing influenza-like illness and have scheduled appointments at a hospital should contact the facility in advance of their appointment to advise of their symptoms.

Health care facilities will be reviewing the temporary guidelines over the next week and a further update will be provided if there are any changes.