Coronavirus (COVID-19): What patients and families need to know before coming to SickKids

Current as of: September 16, 2020 5:00 p.m.

SickKids is closely monitoring the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. Please check this page often for the latest updates on clinical services, access to the hospital, and how we are keeping our patients, families and staff safe.

Families, friends and members of the public: please avoid coming to SickKids if your presence is not essential to the care of a patient who is currently at the hospital. We recognize that these temporary measures can be an inconvenience and we appreciate your patience and cooperation. Thank you for helping to keep our community healthy.

Please note that SickKids is not a COVID-19 assessment centre. Contact Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000, your local public health unit or use the online self-assessment tool if you’re experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.

Please visit Ontario.ca/coronavirus for the latest information.

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Please note our current visitor restrictions:

One Family Caregiver if you are bringing your child to an appointment or test.

One Family Caregiver if you are bringing your child to the Emergency Department.

Two Family Caregivers if your child is being admitted to stay overnight in the hospital. NOTE: only one of these caregivers may go with their child to clinics, tests and surgery/Operating Room areas.

Siblings and other visitors are not allowed but some exceptions apply. Additional restrictions may apply in some areas of the hospital.

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms that we screen for at SickKids and have recently travelled internationally, please contact your clinic or health-care provider before coming to the hospital:

Sore throat

Runny nose

Nasal congestion/stuffy nose

Cough

Fever

Sneezing

Loss of taste or smell

Difficulty swallowing

Shortness of breath

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Screening: We are screening patients and families at entry points to the hospital for signs of illness. All patients and family members will be screened upon arrival at the Elizabeth Street entrance or at the parking elevators.

Entrances: Please enter and exit SickKids using the Elizabeth Street entrance or the parking garage. All other entrances are closed until further notice.

Masking for Family Caregivers: For everyone’s added safety, SickKids is providing masks to all family caregivers coming to the hospital. As maintaining the required physical distancing rule of staying at least six feet (two metres) apart is not always possible, please wear this mask to help lower the risk of community spread of the virus to help protect everyone at the hospital and yourself. Please review our frequently asked questions about family/caregiver masking.

Volunteer programs cancelled: Thank you to all our volunteers for their dedication to SickKids. We look forward to welcoming you back to the SickKids Volunteer Program as soon as we are able.

Reduced hours of operation for food and retail services: Several food and retail services have adjusted their business hours and are accepting cashless transactions only. Please visit the Shop and Eat page for the latest updates.

Parking: In addition to regular parking rates, SickKids offers discounted parking passes for parents of patients. These passes can only be purchased in the Parking Office during reduced hours of operation. Please visit the Parking page for more information.

Learners: As a teaching hospital, we play an important role in training the next generation of paediatric health-care providers. A small number of learners will be back at the hospital this summer with plans to have more learners join our clinical teams this fall. Learners working in clinical environments have been provided with training on how to safely use personal protective equipment (PPE), which we are closely monitoring and conserving, and will be supervised by SickKids staff to ensure all measures are followed.

We recognize that delays caused by the COVID-19 situation have been difficult for patients and their families. To ensure that we have the capacity for any unplanned increase in hospital activity and that our skilled clinical staff are available to provide care, please note the following:

Gradual restart of scheduled care services : As of June 8, 2020, we are gradually restarting scheduled surgeries and procedures that were postponed in mid-March due to the pandemic. Not all procedures will begin on this date and it will take time to reschedule services. SickKids will contact patients and families directly when it is time to reschedule - there is no need to contact the hospital at this time. Thank you for your patience. See this FAQ for families for more information. If your child is experiencing respiratory illness symptoms prior to their appointment, please let your health-care provider’s office know.

: As of June 8, 2020, we are gradually restarting scheduled surgeries and procedures that were postponed in mid-March due to the pandemic. Not all procedures will begin on this date and it will take time to reschedule services. SickKids will contact patients and families directly when it is time to reschedule - there is no need to contact the hospital at this time. Thank you for your patience. See this FAQ for families for more information. If your child is experiencing respiratory illness symptoms prior to their appointment, please let your health-care provider’s office know. Virtual care options for your clinic visits: If your health-care provider determines a clinic appointment can be accomplished without an in-person visit, you will be contacted to change your upcoming appointment to a virtual platform. If the clinic appointment, test or other procedure cannot be offered virtually, and your child is experiencing respiratory illness symptoms prior to their appointment, please let your health-care provider’s office know. Please note the visitor restrictions above.

Our Emergency Department is not a COVID-19 assessment centre. We do not test children without symptoms who are being discharged. We have specific testing criteria for children who are unwell in the context of an emergency visit. Children with mild symptoms, such as a runny nose, should go to an assessment centre to be tested, instead of coming to the Emergency Department. It is important to immediately let the person registering your child know if your child has symptoms of respiratory illness.

Visit Coming to Emergency to learn more about what to expect in our Emergency Department.

Only one adult is allowed to come to SickKids with the patient to a clinic appointment. No other children or family members are allowed to come inside with a patient. For more information about new measures in place at SickKids to keep you safe when you visit a clinic, read these FAQs.

Your safety is our number one priority at SickKids and is reflected in changes to some of our processes and services for patients and families who are staying overnight.

Virtual Brief Therapy Clinic: This clinic, staffed by social workers and psychologists at SickKids, offers access to short-term therapy for SickKids patients and families and linkages with hospital or community-based resources. Email emotionalsupport.covid19@sickkids.ca to book an appointment.

AboutKidsHealth resources: Visit the COVID-19 AboutKidsHealth learning hub for expert information from SickKids.

Register online for MyChart: Patients, parents and guardians can now apply for a MyChart account using an online form. MyChart is a secure, online patient portal that provides patients and authorized family members and caregivers access to parts of their SickKids’ electronic health record, anywhere, at any time. Learn more about MyChart.