At Baycrest, we are committed to keeping you informed about COVID-19. The health and safety of everyone in our community is our top priority. This page contains the most up-to-date information from Baycrest.

Learn about any declared outbreaks on the Baycrest campus.

Please note: If you have COVID-19 symptoms or have recently been exposed and screened positive, please do not visit Baycrest for non-essential reasons for 10 days. Follow public health guidance before returning.

To book your COVID-19 vaccination or for more information, please visit the Government of Ontario’s vaccination site

Stay home with COVID-19 symptoms

If you have any of the following new or worsening symptoms, it is important that you stay home:

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

Masking policy

This masking policy is effective as of Friday, November 1, 2025.

We continue to work to keep our community safe as we enter the respiratory illness season. For all staff, visitors and caregivers:

Masking is required during direct interactions with residents and patients in care areas.

Masking remains optional in public and non-clinical areas.

Clients are also encouraged to wear a mask when possible.

If you have any questions about this policy, please speak to a member of your care team.

Baycrest Hospital visitor policy

For everyone’s safety, the following visitor measures are in place:

• Visitors must not be experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19.
• Visitors may not eat or drink at the bedside.
• During a COVID-19 outbreak, visitor restrictions may be in place and will be communicated accordingly.
• Visitors under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the visit.

In line with ministry guidance, rapid antigen testing is no longer required for visitors and caregivers who do not have any symptoms of COVID-19. There is also no limit on the number of visitors and caregivers who may visit a resident at one time.

Staff may sometimes ask visitors to step out of a residents’ rooms while certain care duties are being provided.

Everyone is strongly encouraged to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 by avoiding:

• Crowded places with many people nearby
• Close-contact settings
• Enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces

Paid private companions

Baycrest Hospital allows the same level of patient access for general visitors and paid private companions. Paid private companions no longer need to formally register with the hospital unless the patient, the patient’s power of attorney or their secondary decision maker, requests that the paid private companion have extended access with the patient. This request will need to be reviewed and approved by the 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.

Resident visitor policies

Apotex Centre, long-term care home

The Apotex aims to provide visitors to the home with a clear process to support visits to the home with a focus on safety and maintaining resident quality of life.

Read the Apotex Visitation Policy (PDF).

Caregivers for Apotex residents

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

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 and paid private companions in Baycrest Terraces

Caregivers and paid private companions must be registered with us to have access to our campus. A caregiver is a type of visitor who is designated by the resident or their SDM to provide direct care to the resident. For example, they can help with feeding, mobility, personal hygiene, cognitive stimulation, communication, meaningful connection, relational continuity or assistance in decision-making. Caregivers are not paid for their care. To register caregivers or private companions, please contact your social worker, and we will email you with the next steps.