Government is relaxing restrictions on hospital visitation. Earlier this week it opened up long-term care facilities to six designated visitors/support and it has now included hospital patients.

Each patient in a hospital will be asked to identify up to six visitors upon admission to acute care and will be advised by their nurse about the visitation process on the unit.

Obstetrics patients may have one support person who can stay for the duration of the mother and newborn’s stay and can visit as many times as they like throughout the day. Additionally, four designated visitors are permitted after delivery to the time of discharge.

Children who are in-patients can have both parents visit at the same time, and there are no restrictions on the number of visits per day. Additionally, four persons can be identified as designated visitors and they must contact the hospital unit before visiting to confirm the visiting time.

The new rules in hospitals and long-term care facilities take effect Monday.