People Asked To Avoid Visiting Toronto and Simcoe County Hospitals

 

A provincial directive from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care requests that people avoid visiting friends and relatives at any of the hospitals in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) as well as all Simcoe County hospitals

 unless

• they are the parents of children in the hospital or
• they are visitors of critically ill patients.

 

The purpose of this directive is to limit the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and to prevent further strain on hospital resources. The hospitals involved include Toronto, York Region, Durham Region, Peel Region and Halton Region, as well as Simcoe County hospitals (Barrie, Collingwood, Orillia, Penetanguishene, Midland, etc).

 

People should not visit these hospitals unless they have an urgent need to do so.  These hospitals are requiring all patients and individuals accompanying patients entering a hospital emergency department to wear a mask.  Visitors are asked to avoid visiting unnecessarily so as not to strain hospital resources further.

 

For further information call Public Health at 519-376-9420 (or 1-800-263-3456).

 

 

For more information:

 

Dr. Hazel Lynn

Medical Officer of Health

Grey Bruce Health Unit

(519) 376-9420