Concerns over the spread of recent COVID clusters has prompted DHHS to hand down new requirements for hospital and aged care visits.
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Wimmera Health Care Group announced that under the new rules only one visitor is allowed per patient for up to one hour per day between 3 - 7pm. This is down from the previous limit of one visitor for up to four hours.
A spokesman for Wimmera Health Care Group said the new rules were put in place in ensure social distancing.
"You can swap with one other person to visit between 3 and 7pm, but only one person can come in at a time," the spokesman said.
"That is simply because our rooms aren't big enough for proper physical distancing."
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These rules apply across the Yandilla, Oxley, Wyuna, ICU and sub-acute wards as well as the general hospital.
All visitors will be screened and their temperature checked before entering the hospital.
The follow exemptions still apply outside of the timeframes:
- Palliating patients may have two visitors at a time.
- Maternity - partner or equivalent support person.
- Pediatric - parent/guardian of a child less than 18 years of age.
Wimmera Health Care Group have a COVID-19 community testing clinic on Read street, Horsham, near the Wimmera base hospital. The clinic is open daily from 9am to 12pm.
For more information on visiting rules and exemptions, visit whcg.org.au.
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