Long-term care residents will now be able to leave their facilities for day trips.
The province announced today it is easing COVID-19 restrictions on long-term care facilities, allowing residents to visit family members at their homes.
However, Dr. Robert Strang, chief medical officer of health said there are still rules to be followed for these outings.
“These off-site visits must be pre-arranged with the facility, who will keep a record of these trips,” he said.
“We are working to develop comprehensive guidance for these families on what they need to follow for these visits.”
Strang said implementing the allowance for day trips will be up to the facilities, and will be dependent on their individual environments and residents.
He said they expect facilities will begin allowing day trips by Sept. 28.
Strang also spoke about organized sports and their current restrictions and allowances, pointing out he’s heard many instances of parents refusing to follow public guidelines while at games and being rude to those trying to enforce them.
“If we cannot have safe environments for spectators, I am very comfortable saying we will remove the privilege of adults watching children play if they cannot act like adults and respect the rules,” said Strang.
He said parents need to remember being able to attend their children’s games is a privilege.
The province has announced one new case of COVID-19 was announced in the Western Zone. An essential worker who travelled outside the Atlantic Bubble has come back as positive.
Strang says the case is currently under investigation, however there has been minimal close contacts with the individual.
