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COVID-19 Information

COVID-19 Cases at Southlake as of Monday, March 20

*Please note these numbers are updated on a weekly basis every Monday morning.

  • Number of patients with COVID-19 in critical care: 0
  • Number of patients with COVID-19 in units: 11
  • Total number of patients with COVID-19 at Southlake: 11

Following the direction of the Provincial Government, all COVID-19 testing will be done by appointment only. Walk-in COVID tests are not available.

Those who have already scheduled COVID-19 test appointments related to procedures or surgery will remain the same. Those tests will be conducted as scheduled.

Please note that Southlake has restricted visiting. Please click here to review the new guidelines for visitors.


We are always looking to ensure a safe environment for everyone at Southlake. We understand how important visitors are to patients and the role they play in their recovery. Generally, visiting hours are between 11 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. Please speak to the care team if you are planning to visit outside these hours. Masks must be worn at all times. Please take one from the mask dispenser at the entrance before visiting your loved one.

  • One visitor per patient will be permitted in the ED at the discretion of staff

We understand how important visitors are to patients while they’re in the hospital. Southlake offers virtual visits for those who are unable to visit their loved ones in person. Please speak with your care team about arranging a virtual visit with your family member.

Please click here for full visitor guidelines.

Patients

Please check in at the Welcome Centre to the right of the East Entrance upon arrival. If your appointment is in the Medical Arts Building, check in at the Welcome Centre on Level 4 before proceeding to your appointment. Southlake has a universal masking policy and therefore all patients and visitors must wear a medical mask. Please take one from the mask dispenser at the entrance.

Masks

Southlake has a universal masking policy and therefore all patients and visitors must wear a medical mask. This mask must stay on at all times and cover both your mouth and nose. Masks between the ages of 2-5 years are optional. Gloves are not permitted. Please take one from the mask dispenser at the entrance before visiting your loved one.

Emergency Department (ED) and outpatient visitors

Southlake may have restricted visiting in the Emergency Department to keep our staff and patients safe, avoid overcrowding and allow for physical distancing. One visitor per patient will be permitted based on current volumes in the department. Outpatients are permitted one support person per patient as an escort to an appointment or procedure.

Please click here for ED visiting guidelines.

Childbirth at Southlake

If you are expecting to give birth at Southlake or have a child in the hospital, please click here to visit our Families & Babies page for more specific information regarding a support person.

Enhanced entrance screening

All visitors will be required to self-screen at all entrances for COVID-19 symptoms, including fever/chills, cough, shortness of breath, decrease or loss of sense of taste or smell, unexplained fatigue, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

PLEASE NOTE: All visitors and patients are required to wear medical-grade masks at all times in the hospital.

If you have a scheduled clinical appointment, test or procedure, and have any of the following symptoms, please call your clinic to see if you should still come to the hospital:

  • Fever
  • New or worsening cough
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Shortness of breath
  • Sore throat
  • Nasal congestion
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Unexplained fatigue/malaise
  • Chills
  • Headache
  • Pink eye (conjunctivitis)

Click here to download and complete our pre-screening tool ahead of arriving for your appointment.

Click here to download the screening tool if your appointment is in the Medical Arts Building.

Restricted access and reduced number of entry points

To ensure the most efficient screening process, Southlake has currently restricted access to the main campus.

Main Hospital
Enter through the East main entrance (#1 on the map below)

Medical Arts Building (MAB)
Enter through the North entrance – parking lot side (#3 on the map below) or through the Bridge from the parking garage (#4 on the map below)

Cancer Centre
Enter through the ground level lobby entrance (#5 on the map below)

This does not apply to patients going to the Emergency Department (ED). Patients who are going to the ED should continue to use the main ED entrance (#6 on the map above).

We are always looking to ensure a safe environment for everyone at Southlake. We understand how important visitors are to patients and the role they play in their recovery. Generally, visiting hours are between 11 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. Please speak to the care team if you are planning to visit outside these hours. Masks must be worn at all times. Please take one from the mask dispenser at the entrance before visiting your loved one.

  • One visitor per patient will be permitted in the ED at the discretion of staff

Southlake offers virtual visits for those who are unable to visit in person. Please speak with your care team about arranging a virtual visit with your family member. A reminder that patient phones are free.  

Please note:

  • Visitors must wear a medical mask at all times, including in the patient’s room.
  • Visitors who feel unwell (fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat): please do not visit at this time. 
  • Visitors are restricted in the Emergency Department based on volume. See below for details.

General guidelines for all visitors

  • All visitors will be required to self-screen at all entrances for symptoms, including fever/chills, cough, shortness of breath, decrease or loss of sense of taste or smell, unexplained fatigue, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The requirement remains that those who are symptomatic or confirmed close contacts of individuals with COVID-19 are not permitted on site.
  • Stay home if you are sick or are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, no matter how mild.
  • A medical mask MUST stay on at all times. The mask must cover both your mouth and nose.
  • Clean your hands frequently with hand sanitizer, or soap and water.
  • Should there be an outbreak within the hospital, visitors may be restricted.
  • Please check in and out at the nursing station with every visit.

Emergency Department (ED) visitors

  • Southlake may have restricted visiting in the Emergency Department to keep our staff and patients safe, avoid overcrowding and allow for physical distancing. One visitor per patient will be permitted based on current volumes in the department.
  • There are NO in and out privileges for designated visitors in the ED.
  • Due to environmental constraints, and physical distancing, seating for visitors cannot be guaranteed. Visitors may be asked to wait in their cars or leave a particular area due to clinic/department volumes and space.
  • If your loved one is admitted to hospital as an inpatient, you will NOT be permitted to accompany them to the unit directly from the ED.

Families and Babies 

  • Click here for visiting information specific to families and babies.

Thank you for working together to ensure all our safety during these unprecedented times. In order to keep everyone safe, visitor privileges may be revoked if all guidelines, and infection control practices are not followed.

A message from the Southlake Community Ontario Health Team:

March 16, 2023

We regretfully announce the closure of the COVID, Cold and Flu Care at 22 Prospect St, Newmarket, ON L3Y 3S9. The last day of operations will be on Friday, March 31st, 2023.

The COVID, Cold, and Flu Clinic at 22 Prospect Street opened during the pandemic to support access to timely in-person care for patients experiencing moderate COVID-19, cold or flu symptoms.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff and Emergency Department physicians for their hard work, compassion and dedication to the patients seen in the clinic. The patients truly appreciated that you were there for them when they were not feeling their best.

For patients seeking COVID-19 related services,

We deeply apologize for any inconvenience this closure may cause.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • To keep everyone safe, avoid overcrowding and allow for physical distancing, one visitor per patient will be permitted depending on the environmental constraints and current volumes in the ED. 
  • Outpatients are welcome to have a support person as an escort to an appointment or procedure.

Southlake’s Emergency Department (ED) remains open 24/7. If you feel you need emergency care, it is safe to visit Southlake’s ED. 

Southlake’s COVID-19 Assessment Centre is separate from the ED, with the intention of keeping the ED focused on patients who need emergency care. 

Southlake is seeing high levels of patients. To keep everyone safe, avoid overcrowding and allow for physical distancing, one visitor per patient will be permitted, depending on the current volumes in the department and with the discretion of staff.

Yes. Everyone in the hospital is required to wear a medical mask.

Please place the package in a plastic bag and clearly label with the patient’s name and room number. The packages can be dropped off with the screeners at the East Main Entrance.  We have staff who are pleased to take your care package and deliver to your loved one.

You do not need to schedule your visit in advance. Visitors may visit patients in hospital one at a time. After self-screening at the entrance, please take a mask if you need one and proceed to the unit and check in at the nursing station before visiting your loved one. Masks are required at all times including at the patient’s bedside.

TV rentals are provided by Health Hub. For information on renting a TV during your stay, click here or turn on the TV once in your patient room and follow the directions.

If you require information on rental fees, please call 1-866-223-3686.

If you are expecting to give birth at Southlake during the pandemic, or have a child in the hospital, please click here to visit our Families & Babies page for more specific information regarding Designated Care Partners.

We are continuing to post vacancies at www.southlake.ca and recruitment will continue for essential positions. Interviews during this time will be scheduled via Skype. Thank you for your patience and ongoing interest in becoming part of the Southlake team.

If you are expecting to give birth at Southlake during the pandemic, or have a child in the hospital, please click here to visit our Families & Babies page for more specific information regarding Designated Care Partners.

We have launched a PPE drive. Please visit  www.southlake.ca/foundation/southlake-ppe-drive for more information.

Yes. Southlake remains a safe place to receive and provide care. 

Age for visiting is restricted to 16 years of age and over; however, the ability of the visitor to follow infection control practices may be assessed to ensure that appropriate supervision is available to adhere to any requirements.

Patients will have received notification if their scheduled appointment was cancelled. If you are scheduled for an appointment please be prepared to answer the screening questions at the east main entrance.   

If you answer yes to any of these questions we will ask you not to enter the building. 

Please be kind to our screeners at the entrances. They are doing everything they can to keep our vulnerable patients and staff safe during this time.

Visiting is restricted to scheduled times. You must schedule your visit in advance with the care team. The scheduled visit times limit the number of people in the building at any one time in order to facilitate physical distancing of 2 metres.

Designated Care Providers (DCPs) provide support to specific patients and are designated by the patient/substitute decision maker/POA. DCPs provide support to patients with significant developmental, intellectual or functional disabilities such as cognitive impairment or communication barriers. They may provide direct care to the patients such as feeding, mobility, hygiene, cognitive stimulation, communication and meaningful connection or may assist with decision making. 

  • DCPs must be fat least 18 years of age.     
  • DCPs and hours of visitation must be approved by the Manager or designate of the unitDCPs do not have to call the inpatient booking line in order to book their visit 
  • DCPs must follow Southlake visitor guidelines.  
  • DCP access will be determined based on compassionate circumstances surrounding the individual patient. 

Please clean your hands often, avoid touching your face, practice physical distancing by minimizing contact with others outside of your home, and self-monitor for any symptoms, particularly fever, new or worsening cough, shortness of breath and/or sore throat. If you have symptoms please get tested.

You can reach York Region Public Health at 1-800-361-5653. 

If you’re having difficulty breathing or experiencing other severe symptoms, call 911. 

If you would like to arrange a virtual visit with your loved one please email the patient’s name and your contact information to VirtualVisit@southlake.ca.

We are always looking to ensure a safe environment for everyone at Southlake. We understand how important visitors are to patients and the role they play in their recovery. Generally, visiting hours are between 11 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. Please speak to the care team if you are planning to visit outside these hours. Masks must be worn at all times. Please take one from the mask dispenser at the entrance before visiting your loved one.

Who cannot visit?

  • Anyone who has COVID-19
  • Anyone exhibiting the following signs or symptoms:
    • Fever, cough, difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, sore throat, runny nose, loss of taste or smell, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.
  • Anyone who is a contact of a known COVID-19 positive individual.
  • Those who are feeling unwell.