Important information regarding visiting during Winter season

July 2025

Sydney Adventist Hospital is continuosly monitoring the incidence of all winter viruses including COVID-19 within our community and putting in place measures to protect our patients, staff and community members as required. COVID-19 and other acute respiratory illnesses (ARI) such as Influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) are circulating and it is predicted this year that there will be high number of cases.

Visitors, patients and staff are reminded to adhere to cough etiquette & good hand hygiene. Visitors should not attend if unwell and symptomatic with an ARI or other infectious disease such as gastroenteritis.

Current mask requirements

Circumstances where masks may be required due to clinical need will be communicated via our staff members, but could include:

• Patients who present with acute respiratory infection (ARI) symptoms must wear a surgical mask (if tolerated)
• Visitors must wear the appropriate mask if visiting a patient with a confirmed or suspected ARI including COVID-19
• Visitors must wear the appropriate mask if visiting a patient who is immunosuppressed or highly susceptible to infection

Mask wearing is recommended for patients and visitors throughout our facilities, unless there is a specific clinical need that makes them mandatory (as noted above). Where required, staff and doctors will continue to wear masks.

Visitor Restrictions

• Many patients will have no restrictions on the number of visitors per day, however this may change based on a patients clinical condition and admitted ward.
• Patients with COVID-19, or suspected to have COVID-19 (SCOVID), are allowed to have immediate family, next of kin and designated people visit them, up to two people at a time for 1-2 hours, depending on the individual circumstance of the patient. Restrictions are still in place so please discuss this with the ward manager prior to visiting the hospital.

Higher restrictions may be reintroduced if circumstances change within a ward or department. Please contact the ward manager with any questions.