Patients admitted to one of Hamilton Health Sciences’ (HHS) hospitals will now be able to have more visitors at the same time during their stay.

HHS says it has loosened visiting guidelines across all of its sites due to declining COVID-19 cases and rising vaccination rates.

Officials say two visitors or caregivers are now allowed at the same time for inpatients between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m.

“We recognize that presence of individuals, such as family members and caregivers or support persons, is important to the well-being of patients, and that we must balance this with the need to keep everyone safe and reduce the spread of COVID-19,” says HHS in an update on their website.

Visitors are still required to:

• Pass screening to enter the hospital.
• Clean your hands when you enter the hospital and when you enter and exit the patient’s room.
• Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), such as a mask. Hospital-issued masks will be provided at screening and are to be kept on for the duration of your visit.
• Avoid eating and drinking when inpatient rooms or on units in an effort to keep your mask on.
• Use public washrooms rather than patient washrooms.

Hamilton Health Sciences is a hospital network that includes Hamilton General Hospital, McMaster Children’s Hospital, Juravinski Hospital, St. Peter’s Hospital, West Lincoln Memorial Hospital, and Juravinski Cancer Centre.

For more information on HHS’ visiting guidelines, click here.