Both Windsor Regional Hospital and Erie Shores Healthcare are restricting who can come to the hospital to visit patients because of the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Both hospitals are no longer allowing visitors under the age of 18.
"We are prepared to make special exceptions to the visitor policies on compassionate grounds, but only at the request and approval of the patient, and in consultation with the care team and our infection control team," read releases from both Erie Shores Healthcare and Windsor Regional Hospital.
At Erie Shores Healthcare in Leamington, only one visitor will be allowed per patient, two if the patient is in palliative care.
"If you do not need to come to the hospital, please stay home," continued Erie Shore Healthcare's release to the public. "ESHC is strongly recommending that any ambulance or medical bills be paid online."
BlackburnNews.com file photo of Windsor Regional Hospital's Metropolitan Campus, July 16, 2015. (Photo by Jason Viau)
Windsor Regional Hospital is also allowing one visitor per patient except for palliative care patients and critical care/Neonatal Intensive Care patients.
"We ask families and friends to designate one or two individuals to be the visitors per patient throughout that patient's stay in the hospital," said the statement from Windsor Regional Hospital. "We also ask that you do not visit if you have travelled outside Canada over the past 14 days, or have been in contact with someone who has, or are feeling ill yourself."
The hospital in Leamington makes the same request.
Visitors who are ill and have a rash, vomiting, diarrhea, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny nose, or fever should stay home.
Visiting hours remain unchanged. At Windsor Regional, they are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and 24-hours for palliative care, critical care, pediatrics, neonatal, patients and at the emergency department.
At Erie Shores Healthcare, visiting hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, and 24-hours for those in palliative and critical care. The emergency department is open 24-hours.
The changes take effect at midnight Friday.
Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare is restricting visiting hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and those under 18 will not be permitted.