SINGAPORE: Restrictions on the amount of visitors to hospitals plus residential care homes will be extended in order to Aug 31, mentioned the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Tuesday (Aug 2).
“While the every day number of local COVID-19 cases has fallen gradually over the past week, our hospitals carry on and face a high volume of both COVID-19 plus non-COVID-19 patients, inch said the ministry.
Treatment homes have to control an increased number of COVID-19 residents on-site, it added.
The restrictions, which have been in place since Jul 7 amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, were set to end upon Wednesday .
HOSPITAL VISITS
All individuals in hospitals is going to be allowed two pre-designated visitors for the duration of their admission, and only one particular visitor may be permitted at the bedside at any one time.
Critically ill patients will be allowed as much as five pre-designated website visitors. Two of them might be allowed at the bedside at any one moment in time.
The duration of a visit will be limited to 30 minutes.
“In extraordinary situations, such as just for critically ill individuals, paediatric patients, birthing or post-partum mothers, and for patients needing additional care assistance, visitors may be permitted to stay beyond 30 minutes on a case-by-case time frame at the hospitals’ discretion, ” said the Ministry.
“Visitors are reminded never to eat or consume in the hospital wards, or use the lavatories designated for sufferers in the wards. They ought to also avoid seated on patients’ bed frames. ”
TREATMENT HOMES
Most of residents in care homes will be permitted up to four pre-designated visitors, and only one of them may visit any kind of time one time for up to half an hour.
MOH said visitors need to continue to schedule the visits with the house ahead of time.
“Visitors should strictly adhere to prevailing safe management measures within the homes. This includes leftover within the designated website visitor areas, outside of the wards, ” said MOH.
Visits may have to be suspended if a care home is definitely managing active COVID-19 cases, the ministry added.
Many visitors to hospitals plus homes should guarantee they are well and so are “strongly encouraged” to check themselves with antigen rapid tests (ARTs) on the day of the visit.
They must wear masks with great filtration capability all the time while visiting hospitals or residential care homes, said the ministry. These include medical masks and recylable masks that are made of two layers of fabric.
MOH said it will review and calibrate these measures regularly in line with the evolving COVID-19 situation.
“We seek the knowing and cooperation associated with patients, residents, their own family members and loved ones as we work to reduce the risk of COVID-19 tranny in our healthcare establishments and residential care homes, ” it added.