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Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Latest News

Wearing a Face Covering in the Hospital

To prevent the spread of COVID-19 and keep everyone at the hospital safe, we are asking all patients, family caregivers, and visitors to wear a mask or face covering while in the hospital. As you enter the hospital, you will meet with the screening staff. If you do not have your own mask or face covering, or the staff determines that the mask you are wearing is not effective, we will hand you a mask to wear. Please clean your hands with hand sanitizer before and after putting your mask on. If you have a child, 6 years of age or older, coming in for a test, clinic visit, or emergency, we will also give them a mask to wear.

Update on Resuming Clinical Activities

Humber River Hospital has received approval to gradually resume non-urgent and elective surgeries and procedures as of June 3rd.

To be clear, not all procedures will begin on June 3rd. It will take time to reschedule services.

All of this hinges on a number of factors including PPE, bed occupancy, availability of drugs and supplies, ability to maintain safe social distancing, and our human resource capacity.

Important: HRH will be contacting patients directly to reschedule their procedures.

Going forward, should there be a sudden surge of COVID-19 cases, HRH needs to be able to readily access 10% of its beds. This is why a cautious and gradual approach to the initial resumption is required to closely monitor any impacts to our operations. This will roll out in phases over the coming weeks.

It’s important to note that the hospital may need to stay in a specific phase for several weeks at a time, or longer, or return to an earlier phase, depending on occupancy, PPE and drug supply status.

HRH will continue to monitor and reassess this plan on an ongoing basis, especially if there is a sudden surge in COVD-19 cases in the community.

Humber River Hospital COVID-19 Assessment Centre:

Before coming to the HRH Assessment Centre, do a pre-assessment by:

Location: Reactivation Care Centre (RCC) – Finch site (2111 Finch Avenue West Toronto, Ontario M3N 1N1)

Hours: 7 days a week/ 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Visitor Restrictions:

Effective Friday, March 20, 2020 at 7pm:  Due to COVID-19, we are no longer permitting visitors at all three Humber River Hospital sites, including our Reactivation Care Centres – Finch and Church sites, per the guidelines of Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer. There will be limited exceptions including patients who are at end-of-life, critically ill, paediatric patients, patients receiving surgery, or women in the birthing suites.

We will actively screen all visitors who are the exception and they will be required to sign-in once they arrive on the unit.

Visitors who feel unwell (fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat): please do not visit at this time.

Door Screening:

We continue to screen all patients and visitors who are the exception, as per above guidelines.

When you come to the hospital, security will ask you why you are at the hospital. They will also ask if you have any of the above symptoms. Visitors will be turned away if they have any symptoms during the screening process. We continue to monitor the situation closely to make decisions about visitor access.

Help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses to others by:

  • Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based sanitizer (greater than 60% alcohol), if soap and water are not available.
  • Avoid contact with others until your symptoms subside and/or you have been evaluated by a physician.
  • Cover your mouth and nose if you cough and/or sneeze into your sleeve.
  • Avoid travel while sick.

Entryway Restrictions – Wilson Site

Visitors and patients will only be able to access our Wilson Site using the below entrances:

  • South Central
  • Emergency Department
  • North Central
  • South East
  • Dialysis

Humber River Hospital (HRH) is actively monitoring the status of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Canada.

Please visit Health Canada for the latest COVID information and travel advisories.

HRH is adhering to best practice guidelines set by the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care for the assessment and management of COVID-19.

If you have an upcoming Humber River appointment, please review this important information before coming to the hospital.

Please do not come to the hospital for a clinic appointment, test or other procedure if you have any of the following symptoms:

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath
  • Sore Throat

If you have one or more of these symptoms, call your clinic.  Talk to the staff about:

  • Whether you need to come to the hospital
  • Rescheduling your appointment
  • Any concerns you have with delays in your care

“What can I expect when I come to the hospital?“

Starting March 16, 2020, we are screening all patients and visitors before they come into the hospital buildings. There may be line-ups. Please come earlier than you normally do. This will allow enough time for screening questions and to be at your appointment on time.

When you come to the hospital, staff will ask you why you are at the hospital. They will also ask if you have any of the above symptoms.

What if I have a symptom when I come to the hospital?

Patients who have any of these symptoms will be asked to wear a mask and use hand sanitizer. When you arrive at your appointment further screening and questions will be asked,  where we will talk about options for your care.

Will my appointments be canceled?

When people come together, the risk of infection with COVID-19 increases.

Appointments will continue for now. Changes may be required for nonessential appointments in the future depending on the impact of COVID-19. If you have any questions please speak to your physician’s office.

What if I have an upcoming surgery?

Surgeries will continue as planned for now. Surgeries that are needed to save a life will go ahead, but other surgeries may be canceled in the near future depending on the impact of COVID -19. If you have any questions about an upcoming surgery, call your surgeon’s office to speak with a member of the care team.

Before coming to the HRH Assessment Centre, do a pre-assessment by:

Humber River Hospital (HRH) has opened a COVID-19 Assessment Centre at the Reactivation Care Centre (RCC) – Finch site (2111 Finch Avenue West Toronto, Ontario M3N 1N1).

Regular hours of operation are: 7 days a week/10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  Patients who are being assessed for COVID-19 are directed to use the West Entrance only.  All other patients and visitors will use a separate entrance.

The COVID-19 Assessment Centre provides assessment and testing for patients who have symptoms, such as fever, cough, sore throat or runny nose.