St. Joe's Hamilton tightens visitor policy as Omicron variant continues rapid spread

St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton announced Thursday that it is tightening its visitor policy, amid a surge in COVID-19 cases driven by the Omicron variant.

In a news release, the hospital said that as the Omicron variant continues to spread in the community rapidly, it must reduce traffic inside hospitals and do everything to prevent avoidable exposures.

"To protect and prioritize the health, safety and wellness of our health-care workers and our vulnerable patients, we are implementing a new visitor policy," the hospitalsaid.

"Starting today at 5 p.m., visitors will not be allowed for patients staying in the hospital less than seven days, with limited exceptions."

According to St. Joe's, while it recognized that patients benefit from the care of their loved ones in the hospital, it had to weigh that benefit against the rapidly spreading Omicron variant and the potential that it would spread further in the hospital without this new restriction.

"We are extremely concerned over how community spread will impact our patients and health-care workers in the coming days," the hospital said.

It said other hospitals in the Toronto area have already taken this move, and St. Joe's believes it is the best decision for the hospital in today's environment.