Requirements for visitors
To help stop the spread of respiratory viruses, including RSV, influenza and COVID-19, please reconsider visiting hospitals if you can. Where possible, you should limit visiting patients at the bedside.
You cannot visit our clinical areas if you have symptoms of a respiratory illness such as RSV, influenza (the flu) or COVID-19, or if you have tested positive to COVID-19 in the last seven (7) days. Symptoms include fever or chills, a cough, sore throat or shortness of breath.
Clinical areas include our wards, emergency departments, clinics and community-based settings, such as community health centres.
We may grant exemptions on compassionate grounds and on a case-by-case basis, or we may facilitate a virtual visit. Where an exemption is granted, you must agree to any COVID Safe measures or restrictions stipulated by us for the duration of the visit.
When visiting, you should:
- follow current mask advice as below
- follow the advice of our team, who may limit visitor numbers to avoid overcrowding
- maintain physical distancing
- practice good hand hygiene and respiratory hygiene.
If the patient you wish to visit has COVID-19, visitation will need to be clinically assessed by the team and some additional restrictions may apply.
At times we may need to implement additional, short-term visitor restrictions in response to a local COVID-19 and influenza outbreak to minimise the risk of transmission and ensure the safety of patients and staff. These may include limiting the number of visitors at the bedside at any given time and requiring visitors to wear additional personal protective equipment.
We strongly recommend that visitors are up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccinations.
If you are visiting one of our facilities, please keep an eye out for self-serve stations. Each station has sanitiser, surgical masks and Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) tests for you to use.
Free RATs no longer available
In line with the ACT Government's recent changes to the distribution of free Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs), they are no longer available at our entry points across all Canberra Health Service facilities.
If you need to test for COVID-19 you will need to buy your RATs from pharmacies in the community. You cannot test when you get to one of our health facilities.
All of this information and the changes to PCR referrals is now publicly available on the ACT COVID-19 website.
Mask wearing
Canberra Hospital
If visiting or attending Canberra Hospital for treatment, surgical masks are not currently required in public spaces and low risk clinical areas, however you should continue to wear one if you wish.
Surgical masks are required in a number of the areas caring for high-risk patients such as:
- emergency department
- Intensive Care Unit
- Acute Medical Unit (Ward 6A)
- Ward 14A and 14B
- Canberra Region Cancer Centre
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Special Care Nursery
North Canberra Hospital, University of Canberra Hospital, Walk-in Centres, Community Health Centres and Clare Holland House
If visiting or attending North Canberra Hospital, University of Canberra Hospital, a Walk-in Centre, Community Health Centre or Clare Holland House, a surgical mask is not required unless advised at the facility. You can continue to wear a mask if you wish.
Surgical masks are available to all visitors at entry points to all our facilities.
Exemptions to wearing a face mask
- Children 12 years of age and under.
- Anyone who has medical certification (or other documentation from a medical practitioner) of a physical or mental health condition or disability that makes wearing a fitted mask unsuitable.
- Eating, drinking or taking medicine – please replace your mask as soon as you are finished.
- Communicating with a person who is Deaf/deaf, or is hard of hearing, and visibility of your mouth is essential for the communication.
- Clear enunciation, or visibility of the mouth, is required as part of your employment or training.
- Receiving medical care or treatment in a high risk area that can’t be provided while wearing a face mask.
- Where wearing a face mask would create a risk to your health or safety.
What to do if you have an appointment with us but have COVID-19 symptoms
If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild, you should do a RAT test.
If you have an appointment and have symptoms, please call ahead before coming to the facility. Our team will be able to give you the most appropriate advice. You can call us on:
- Switchboard Canberra Hospital: (02) 5124 0000
- Switchboard North Canberra Hospital: (02) 6201 6111
- Switchboard other hospitals and services: (02) 5124 0000
For more information on COVID-19, testing and symptoms, visit the ACT COVID-19 website.
