ARNPRIOR – Arnprior Regional Health (ARH) expanded its visitor restrictions to include the Emergency Department as a preventative measure to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Visitor restrictions were previously put in place, and remain in effect, for the Grove Nursing Home and Inpatient Unit.

“As directed by the Chief Medical Officer of Health, ARH will only allow essential visitors for the Inpatient Unit, Emergency Department, and the Grove Nursing Home,” ARH communications manager Melissa McDermott released in a statement today (March 20). “An essential visitor is a family member of a patient or resident who is very ill or dying; or a guardian of a patient who is a child or youth.”

The Emergency Department will allow up to one essential visitor if a patient meets the criteria.

“We understand how difficult this temporary restriction is for our patients, residents and their families, but ARH’s top priority remains protecting the safety of everyone at the hospital and Grove Nursing Home,” ARH President and CEO Eric Hanna said.

All essential visitors (in addition to anyone else coming to the hospital or Grove Nursing Home) are actively screened before entering the ARH facilities. If an essential visitor does not pass the screening, they will not be allowed to visit and will be instructed to self-isolate and contact Renfrew County Public Health immediately for further directions.

In an effort to keep residents connected to their loved ones, the Grove Nursing Home has started coordinating Skype video chats and window visits so residents and loved ones can see each other while they chat on the phone. At the hospital, each inpatient has been given free access to an in-room telephone during the COVID-19 pandemic.