One hospital visitor a day

Sydney Local Health District chief executive Dr Teresa Anderson says the changes, which include limiting patients to one visitor a day, are aimed at helping them keep everyone safe.
“Where possible, we ask that the visitor only stays one hour so that we can maintain physical distancing on our wards,” she said.
Some exemptions apply, including for parents with a child in RPA Newborn Care or the Special Care Nursery at Canterbury Hospital; support for women giving birth; and when a patient is receiving end of life care.
However Covid-19 positive patients and those awaiting results, can only have visitors in exceptional cases or on compassionate grounds.
All visitors and outpatients are also now asked to wear face masks, while staff are required to wear surgical masks within 1.5 metres of patients on top of existing precautions such as regular hand hygiene, wiping down surfaces and maintaining physical distancing.
The District is also asking that visits from children be avoided, but says it is working to ensure patients and visitors will be able to stay connected in other ways, including through telephone calls, email, or via apps such as Facetime, Skype or WhatsApp.
“We recognise the importance of having family members and loved ones involved in patient care and we’ll continue to use innovative ways to support and engage them, during this time,” Dr Anderson said.
Staff and visitors are already being screened and temperature checked on entry to the District’s facilities.