COVID-19 Information

COVID-19 Information

Please provide your email address to receive updates on COVID-19:

Measures in Place

• Active Screening
• Universal Masking
• Eye Protection
• Physical Distancing

Visitor Restrictions for Residents and Patients

• Appeals
• Baycrest Hospital Visitation Policy
• Registration of Private Companions for Hospital Patients
• Visitor Policy for Apotex Residents
• Caregivers for Apotex Residents
• Caregivers in the Terraces
• Outpatient Services
• Volunteering has resumed
• Passover Plan for Apotex Residents

COVID-19

• Current Status
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
• Helpful Resources

Measures in Place

If you have ANY of the following new or worsening symptoms or signs, it is imperative that you stay home:

• • Fever or chills
  • Cough or barking cough (croup)
  • Shortness of breath
  • Sore throat
  • Runny or stuffy/congested nose
  • Decreased or loss of taste or smell
  • Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
  • Fatigue
  • Headache
  • Muscle aches/joint pain

  
  Anyone on the Baycrest campus with these symptoms will be asked to leave immediately.
  
  If you are worried that you may have been exposed to COVID-19 please call the Toronto Public Health hotline at 416-338-7600. Information is available in multiple languages.

Universal Masking

All staff and visitors are required to wear a Baycrest-issued mask at all times when in common areas of Baycrest, except when eating and drinking, which should only take place in designated spaces. If a patient or resident is able to tolerate and cooperate with wearing a mask, they will be asked to do so in certain scenarios.

Eye Protection

All staff, physicians, students, volunteers, caregivers and visitors are now required to wear eye protection in the following cases:

• When providing care to or within 2 metres of clients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
• When providing direct care or within 2 metres of clients in an outbreak area.
• Based on the point-of-care risk assessment, when within 2 metres of a client.

Physical Distancing

• Everyone at Baycrest must maintain appropriate physical distancing (2 metres) between themselves and others whenever possible. 
• Tables and chairs in our eating areas have been carefully spaced to ensure physical distancing and should not be moved.

Residents and Patients

Appeals

Baycrest has an appeal process in place for visitation. If an agreement is not reached between the client, family/friend and clinical/management team on issues related to visitation, the client and/or family/friend has the right to request an appeal.

Appeals will proceed in a timely manner; the decision and rationale will be communicated to the person requesting the appeal. Appeals will be received and reviewed during the weekdays, Monday through Thursday and may require up to 72 hours to review.

To request an appeal please use the following submission form. For further information and questions please contact the Client Relations & Experience Office at extension 2685 or clientrelations@baycrest.org. Please note that all appeal decisions are subject to review by Baycrest and can be potentially reversed should the COVID-19 situation in the organization or the community change.

Baycrest Hospital Visitation Policy

Changes to Baycrest’s Screening Procedures
In line with regional guidance, please note the following changes to Baycrest’s entrance screening procedures, effective December 5, 2022:

• There are no longer in-person screeners present at the Hospital entrance (Bathurst Entrance #3).
• Visitors to the Hospital are no longer required to complete in-person active screening (including using the self-screening app), but must complete passive self-screening for COVID-19 symptoms and exposure.
• This means it is critical that all visitors monitor themselves for symptoms and that they do not enter Baycrest if they are experiencing any of the following symptoms:
  • Fever or chills
  • Cough or barking cough (croup)
  • Shortness of breath
  • Sore throat
  • Runny or stuffy/congested nose
  • Decrease or loss of taste or smell
  • Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
  • Fatigue
  • Headache
  • Muscle aches/joint pain

• Each patient has access to a maximum of two visitors per day, who can visit at the same time. Visitors are asked to coordinate visits with friends and family to ensure their access to the Hospital.
  • Paid private companions are considered visitors and count towards the above maximum.
• Each visitor may only visit one patient per day.
• Visitors of all ages are welcome.
• Visitors under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the visit.
• Visitors younger than two years of age do not count towards the total number of visitors. Please note, approval from the clinical manager is required prior to the visit.
• For patients on Unit 6 West, visitors are permitted to visit two at a time, with no maximum number of visitors per day.

• Regular visiting hours are from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. However, visiting may also happen outside of these times.
• If someone intends to visit outside of regular visiting hours (before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.), they must inform a member of the care team in advance so we are aware and know when to expect them on the unit. 
• Visitors entering outside of regular visiting hours will be required to wait at the entrance while a security attendant informs the unit of their arrival. Please factor in the time this may take before the visit can start.

• Do not come to Baycrest if you are feeling unwell in any way.
• Visitors must adhere to our infection prevention and control (IPAC) protocols, including masking, hand hygiene, eye protection and physical distancing (2 metres).
• Visitors must wear a Baycrest-issued mask at all times when on campus.
  • Visitors who cannot tolerate wearing a mask will not be allowed to participate in the visit.
  • Patients who cannot tolerate wearing a mask will still be allowed to participate in the visit.
• Eye protection is recommended for visitors, to be worn when visiting with patients and also when close to any other unmasked individual. Personal eye protection is available at the nursing station on each floor.
• Visitors are not permitted to eat or drink in the patient care areas. Visitors may eat and drink in designated areas, provided that they maintain a distance of at least 2 metres or 6 feet from others.
• Each visitor may only visit one patient per day.
• Pets are not permitted, but service animals are allowed. 

• Requests for personal absences to a private setting will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
• Absences for essential, medical or compassionate reasons are permitted.
• The patient, the patient’s power of attorney or the patient’s substitute decision maker, can speak with a member of the care team for further information about a leave of absence request. All leaves must be approved by the patient’s care team.

Leaves of Absence for Hospital Patients

• Requests for personal absences to a private setting will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
• Absences for essential, medical or compassionate reasons are permitted.
• The patient, the patient’s power of attorney or the patient’s substitute decision maker, can speak with a member of the care team for further information about a leave of absence request. All leaves must be approved by the patient’s care team.

Apotex Visitor Policy

Important Information about Baycrest’s Entrance Screening Procedures
As you know, earlier this year changes were made to Baycrest’s screening process to make it almost entirely digital. As a reminder, all visitors are required to complete self-screening at the beginning of every visit using Baycrest’s self-screening app.
 

• Effective December 5, 2022, in-person screening will only be available at the Apotex entrance (Entrance #7).
• Please note that all other procedures remain the same at the Bathurst and Apotex entrances. All visitors must proceed to the screening desk to show the screener their completed self-screening app, and follow any prompts concerning COVID-19 testing. All visitors must sanitize their hands and don a Baycrest-issued mask before proceeding past the entrance.

• If visitors enter through the Bathurst entrance (Entrance #3) and are unable to use the self-screening app, they must proceed to the Apotex entrance to complete in-person screening.
• If you do not use the self-screening app and you arrive at the Apotex entrance at a time when no screener is present (for example, overnight), you must complete a paper self-screening form and place it in the allocated screening form box, before proceeding to your resident’s room.

 
Please note that the following safety measures continue to be in place across our campus: universal masking, physical distancing, hand hygiene, testing and vaccination.

Removing Visitor Limits
Effective October 14, in line with guidance from the Ministry of Long-Term Care, there is no longer a limit on the number of visitors and caregivers who may visit a resident at a time. Please note that physical distancing (6 feet/2 metres) is still required throughout the Apotex and the rest of the Baycrest campus to avoid crowding.

With increased numbers of visitors and caregivers present, please note that staff may ask individuals to step outside residents’ rooms when they enter to perform certain care duties.

All individuals are strongly encouraged to avoid situations where COVID-19 can spread more easily, such as crowded places with many people nearby (for example, busy times in the W.A. Café), close-contact settings and confined and enclosed spaces with poor ventilation.

COVID-19 Vaccination
Visitors who are five years of age and older must be able to provide proof that they have received at least two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine or will not be permitted to enter, unless they have a valid medical exemption identified in their Enhanced Vaccination Certificate.
 
COVID-19 Testing 
All visitors must provide proof of a negative rapid antigen test obtained the day of the visit or the day prior. The test must be completed at Baycrest. Tests completed outside of Baycrest will not be accepted. A Baycrest screener can direct visitors to the on-site testing centre.

What safety measures are in place?

• • All visitors aged five years and older must provide proof that they have received at least two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, unless they have a valid medical exemption identified in their Enhanced Vaccination Certificate.
  • All visitors must practice proper hand hygiene and wear a Baycrest-issued mask at all times when on the Baycrest campus. Visitors may only remove their mask when in their resident’s room. However, visitors are required to put their mask on if a staff member enters the room.
  • It is recommended that visitors wear eye protection at all times while with the resident they are visiting.
  • Face shields are available at the nurse’s station in the resident’s neighbourhood.
  • Visitors are not permitted to eat or drink during the visit.
  • Pets are not permitted indoors, but support animals with proper documentation and guide dogs are allowed.
  • Do not come to Baycrest if you are feeling unwell in any way.

• • Residents from units or floors that are on outbreak will not be permitted to participate in visits.
  • In the event that the Apotex enters into a facility-wide outbreak, all non-essential visitations will be cancelled.
  • Residents on Special Droplet and Contact precautions and residents on Regular Droplet and Contact precautions will not be permitted to participate in visits.

Caregivers for Apotex Residents

A caregiver is a type of visitor who is designated by the resident and/or their SDM to provide direct care to the resident. Caregivers can be family members, privately hired caregivers or paid companions and must be at least 16 years old. 

At this time, Baycrest is registering a maximum of four caregivers per resident. Caregivers who are already registered maintain their status. If you have yet to register caregivers, you may now register a maximum of four caregivers.

To register a caregiver, please contact your social worker and provide them with the following information.

• Your name
• Are you an SDM or resident?
• Resident’s floor and neighbourhood (if known)
• If you are not the resident, name of the resident for whom you are designating a caregiver:
• Name of the caregiver(s)
• Contact information of the caregiver(s)
  • Phone number
  • Email address
  • Home address

• • Caregivers must participate in an online infection prevention and control (IPAC) training module, and follow all safety measures in place.
  • During screening at the entrance, caregivers should verbally attest that, in the last 14 days, they have not visited another home in an outbreak or a resident who is self-isolating or symptomatic.
  • All caregivers are required to indicate which resident they are visiting when entering the building. You will also be asked to provide your own name and that of the client again when exiting.
  • The first time a caregiver enters Baycrest, and at least once a month, they should verbally attest during screening at the entrance that they have read/re-read the Visitor Policy.
  • A resident and/or their substitute decision-maker may change a designation in response to a change in the:
    • Resident’s care needs that are reflected in the plan of care.
    • Availability of a designated caregiver, either temporary (e.g., illness) or permanent.
    • A caregiver will be absent for greater than 14 days.
    • Changes will take five business days to process.

Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination for Caregivers

• All new caregivers must be fully vaccinated and provide proof of their vaccination status in order to complete their registration.
• All Apotex registered caregivers must provide proof of having at least two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine during screening at the start of every visit, unless they have a valid medical exemption.

COVID-19 Testing for Caregivers

• All registered caregivers, regardless of booster status, must complete COVID-19 testing on site at least every 72 hours. Please ensure you receive a testing completion card from the clinic staff to present at screening if you plan on visiting again within 72 hours.
• The test must be completed at Baycrest. Tests completed outside of Baycrest will not be accepted. 
• The Baycrest COVID-19 Testing Clinic in Loftus Hall is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. A member of the screening team can direct you.
• Testing will take approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Please take this into account when planning your visit to Baycrest.

Update on Leaves of Absence for Apotex Residents

• All residents will be permitted to leave for social day and overnight absences, regardless of vaccination status.
• All residents may continue to leave the home for essential, medical or compassionate absences.
• All residents are required to sign out of their unit when they leave and to sign back in upon their return. Testing and isolation measures will be followed, as per Ministry guidelines.

eVisits for Apotex Residents

Please note that as of September 1, the booking office is no longer accepting new requests for eVisits. As Baycrest continues to gradually reopen, we are adjusting our resources to accommodate more in-person programs for our residents. With this, we will be suspending our e-Visit service effective September 14, 2022. Any eVisits that have been previously arranged to take place before September 14, will be fulfilled by our team.
 
Starting September 1, should an urgent need arise for an e-Visit, please contact a member of your care team. We appreciate your understanding and encourage you to visit our website for the latest updates on our visitor policy.

Paid Private Companions in Baycrest Terraces

Caregivers in the Terraces

As defined by the Ministry of Long-Term Care and the RHRA, a caregiver is a type of visitor who is designated by the resident and/or their SDM to provide direct care to the resident (e.g., supporting feeding, mobility, personal hygiene, cognitive stimulation, communication, meaningful connection, relational continuity and assistance in decision-making). Caregivers are not paid for their care. Each resident and/or their SDM has the opportunity to identify a maximum of two caregivers. This does not affect access to paid private companions. To register caregivers, please contact your social worker. Subsequent information will be provided following the initial email.

 

Outpatient Services

In alignment with Ministry of Health pandemic guidelines, which state that, wherever possible, on-site volumes should be minimized, we have expanded our virtual technologies to allow our healthcare clinicians to conduct clinical appointments using video and audio communication tools. However, in cases where virtual care is not an option, Baycrest clinics are providing in-person visits.
 
Please visit this page for a list of clinics that are closed or are offering services virtually.
 

Volunteering has resumed

We are pleased to share that we have started to welcome back a limited number of Baycrest volunteers after a lengthy pause due to the pandemic! Not all roles have resumed. We are also now accepting and processing new volunteer applications. For more information regarding volunteering, please visit our volunteer page here

COVID-19

COVID-19 Current Status

Helpful Resources

We have created a page with local, national and international and multilingual resources on COVID-19. Please click here to view it.