Ontario is allowing long-term care residents to enjoy more social connections with their loved ones.
The changes will take effect Wednesday, June 9th, 2021.
Residents who have been fully immunized can leave their long-term care homes for day and overnight social outings and trips.
Residents with mobility limitations or health conditions (essentially, factors unrelated to weather) that make participating in outdoor visits highly unlikely or impossible may have one general visitor at a time inside the long-term care home, in addition to an essential caregiver.
Regardless of resident and visitor vaccination status, brief hugs can now take place. Where both the resident and visitors are fully immunized, close physical contact, including handholding, can now take place safely. It continues to be important that residents and visitors adhere to public health measures in the home, including good hand hygiene and appropriate masking.
Minister of Long-Term Care Dr. Merrilee Fullerton says thanks to high immunization levels, residents and their families can resume more of the activities that contribute to their quality of life.
