Guidance for long-term care facilities including infection prevention and control measures, and outbreak management.
Last updated: March 28, 2025
People who are ill or have symptoms of illness should not visit long-term care and seniors’ assisted living sites. Visitors are expected to follow precautions in place at each site.
Visitors are encouraged to wear medical masks in health care settings as appropriate and to practice respiratory etiquette, including:
- Clean your hands often using soap and warm water or use alcohol-based hand rub
- Sneeze or cough into your elbow instead of your hands
- If you are ill, stay away from people at higher risk of serious illness
Visitors can also wear a mask or respirator based on their personal preference. Proof of vaccination is not required for entry but getting immunized is encouraged to help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses.
As per the Provincial Outbreak Guidance for Viral Respiratory Illness in Long-Term Care Settings in the event of an outbreak, the unit/facility may implement partial or full restrictions on visits/visitation under guidance and direction from the Medial Health Officer or their official designate to manage traffic into and out of the unit/facility.
Healthcare workers must wear appropriate personal protective equipment, including masks or respirators, when additional precautions are required and based on a point of care risk assessment.
Healthcare workers can also wear a mask or respirator based on their personal preference.
Wildfire season brings the threat of severe smoke pollution, and good preparation is even more critical in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in B.C. This document provides information on preparing for and preventing wildfire smoke in care facilities:
