COVID-19

Providence

• None

St. Joseph’s

• None

St. Michael’s

• 8CS (Nephrology/Urology) – declared Dec. 4, 2023

Houses of Providence

• None

Recently resolved

• Providence – D3 (Palliative) – resolved Dec. 8, 2023
• St. Michael’s 14CG (General Internal Medicine – Observation Unit) – resolved Dec. 5, 2023
• St. Joseph’s – 3M (Medicine) – resolved Nov. 29, 2023
• St. Joseph’s – 2E (Medicine) – resolved Nov. 23, 2023
• St. Joseph’s – 6G (Transitional Care Unit) – resolved Dec. 1, 2023
• St. Joseph’s – 4M (Medicine) – resolved Nov. 28, 2023
• St. Joseph’s – 5M (Palliative Care Unit) – resolved Nov. 25, 2023
• Providence – Adult Day Program – resolved Nov. 24, 2023

Total number of COVID-19 cases at Unity Health Toronto sites: 41

* Long-term care house at Providence Healthcare

Last updated: December 8, 2023 @ 10:12 a.m.

Visit the Directions and Parking page for more information about how to get to our sites.

We continue to have limited access to our buildings. Members of the public should only enter our buildings if they are a patient, are visiting/accompanying a patient or are a contractor or vendor. Learn more on our Visitor Information page.

Below are all open entrances at Unity Health’s hospitals. These are the only entrances where patients and visitors can enter our main hospital buildings. If your appointment is in one of our other buildings such as one of our Family Health Team sites or 61 Queen St., you will also need to self-screen at these entrances.

Before you can come inside our buildings, you must self-screen yourself at the entrances. Note: Screeners will continue to ask screening questions to those entering the Houses of Providence, as long-term care requirements for active screening remain in place.

At the entrance, you must self-screen with the following questions:

Do you have ANY of the following symptoms:

• Fever or chills
• New or worsening cough
• New or worsening shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Decrease or loss of sense of taste or smell
• Runny nose or nasal congestion
• Unexplained headache
• Extreme fatigue
• Sore throat
• Unexplained muscle aches/joint pain
• Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
• New, unexplained rash

OR

Have you had close, unprotected contact with a person with symptoms consistent with  COVID-19 in the last 10 days?

OR

Have you tested positive for COVID-19 using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or rapid test in the last 10 days?

If you have answered NO TO ALL OF THE ABOVE questions, you may proceed with your visit or appointment.

If you have answered YES TO ANY OF THE ABOVE questions:

• • PATIENTS: Inform your care team of your situation immediately. If possible, please call your care team for specific instructions.
  • VISITOR, CONTRACTOR OR VENDOR: You are not permitted to enter the building at this time

Masking is mandatory for patients and visitors when they are in close contact with other patients and in waiting areas. Masks are available at all entrances and in clinical areas. While masking is optional in some areas, all are welcome to continue masking in all areas.

Masking is optional in the following spaces:

• All public areas (lobbies, public hallways outside clinical areas, elevators, cafeterias etc.)
• All hallways in clinical areas where you are not close to patients

A mask must be worn inside Unity Health sites where patients spend prolonged periods of time or receive care including:

• The Emergency Department and open concept units
• Waiting rooms/areas
• Any hallways that also function as patient waiting rooms or hallways where patients spend prolonged periods of time or receive care
• Procedure or exam rooms, imaging suites and other rooms where care is provided
• Staff, physicians, volunteers and visitors must continue to wear masks in inpatient rooms

This masking policy is based on recommendations from the Infection Prevention and Control team at Unity Health and reflects the current low to moderate COVID-19 community transmission. Masking requirements are subject to change depending on virus activity in the hospital and community, with the possibility that masking in all clinical areas may be required again if COVID-19 transmission increases.

What is a coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses. They can cause diseases ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Some human coronaviruses spread easily between people, while others do not.

On Dec. 31, 2019, Chinese health authorities identified a new (or novel) coronavirus (referred to as COVID-19) through a series of reported cases of pneumonia in Wuhan, China.

What are the symptoms?

Common symptoms of COVID-19 include:

• Fever
• New or worsening cough
• Shortness of breath

A full list of symptoms and signs of COVID-19, as defined by the provincial Ministry of Health, can be found here.

What if I come to the hospital and I might have a COVID-19?

If you have the correct risk factors, your care team will wear protective equipment and place you in a room separate from other patients. After a careful review, a decision will be made as to whether you need testing, where this should be done, and whether you need to go to the emergency department (if you are not already there) and whether you need to be admitted to hospital. Patients that have very mild symptoms may be sent home with instructions to isolate at home while awaiting test results and will be followed by public health.

Do I need to wear a mask?

Masking is mandatory for patients and visitors when they are in close contact with other patients and in waiting areas. Masks are available at all entrances and in clinical areas. While masking is optional in some areas, all are welcome to continue masking in all areas. More details on our masking policy are available above.

How can I protect myself and those around me?

To reduce exposure to and transmission of a range of illnesses, including coronaviruses, you should follow usual health precautions such as:

• washing your hands often using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer or soap and water
• avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
• avoiding contact with people who are sick
• keeping a safe distance of 2 metres or 6 feet from other individuals
• covering your cough with a tissue or sneeze in your elbow
• staying home when you are sick
• frequently cleaning and disinfecting touched objects and surfaces

Where can I find more information?

For detailed information on the status of the virus and risk to Canadians, please visit the Public Health Agency of Canada or Ontario Ministry of Health websites.

Please note: As the number of patients we serve increases, we want to ensure all patients receive excellent and timely care. This may mean your care could be transferred to another hospital. Delivering safe, high quality care is our top priority and a transfer would occur only when we are confident care needs could be met equally as well by another hospital. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding during these unprecedented times.