S’pore Hospitals Ban Visitors Amid Covid-19 Outbreak, 1 Caregiver Allowed For Exceptional Cases

Hospitals Will Still Allow A Caregiver For Certain Cases, Including Women Giving Birth

While Singaporeans are still grappling with the stringent ‘Circuit Breaker’ measures to curb the spread of Covid-19, hospitals, which house many of our most vulnerable patients, have also implemented similar measures.

From Tuesday (7 Apr) to 4 May, most visitors will not be allowed to step into wards as part of hospitals’ safe-distancing measures.

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1 caregiver still allowed to accompany each outpatient

According to Channel NewsAsia (CNA), the move will hopefully lessen “non-essential movements and contact time” in hospitals.

There are, however, exceptions: 1 caregiver will be allowed to visit at a time on compassionate grounds or if it’s vital for the patient’s well-being.

Image for illustration purposes only 
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These are the patients who will be allowed to have a visitor:

• Critically ill inpatients
• Inpatients lacking mental capacity
• Paediatric inpatients or special needs inpatients
• Palliative inpatients
• Pregnant women who are delivering babies

Elderly and non-ambulatory patients due for discharge, who require a trained caregiver at home, will also be allowed to have that caregiver visit their wards, reports CNA.

Conditions for visitation

MOH, however, was quoted by CNA as saying that the visitation hours for these caregivers will be “limited”.

The folks at Alexandra Hospital have also urged visitors to wear a mask during their visits.

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Over at Changi General Hospital, 1 accompanying person is being allowed per patient for those attending outpatient centres/clinics or Accident & Emergency.

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At the National University Health System’s JurongHealth Campus, which includes the Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, the caregiver’s visiting hours have been clearly stated.

He can only visit for a maximum of 2 hours a day, and only during strict visiting hours, depending on which tower he is visiting.

The caregiver must also be screened for a fever, and fill out a health declaration form.

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Hospital outpatients and those receiving primary care services will still be allowed to be accompanied by a single caregiver, MOH said.

Last thing we want is for a Covid-19 cluster to emerge in a hospital

While not being able to be by your loved one’s side as they are in hospital would likely cause distress for most, we hope people understand that its ultimately for the better good.

Given how infectious the new coronavirus is, the last thing want is for a cluster to emerge in a hospital where vulnerable patients are receiving medical care.

Needless to say, that could result in some unnecessary casualties, and end catastrophically.

Featured image adapted from Facebook and Facebook.