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Please do not enter a CHS facility if you have any respiratory symptoms unless you are seeking medical care. Symptoms of a respiratory illness include:

  • fever
  • chills
  • a cough
  • sore throat
  • shortness of breath.

Safety measures

When visiting these locations you must:

  • use hand sanitiser
  • maintain physical distancing
  • follow the advice of our team, who may limit visitor numbers to avoid overcrowding.

You must wear a mask in the following locations:

  • North Canberra Hospital (NCH) if you visit:
    • Emergency Department (ED)
    • Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
    • Special Care Nursery
    • Zita Mary Clinic
  • Canberra Hospital if you visit:
    • Emergency Department (ED)
    • Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
    • Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NIC)/Special Care Nursery.

You can choose to wear a mask at all other facilities if you wish.

What to do if you have an appointment with us but have respiratory symptoms

If you have any 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:

Visiting someone at hospital

Do not visit if you have any respiratory symptoms.

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.

Visitor restrictions may apply to some areas and facilities from time to time. Please follow the directions of our staff.

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 safety measures or restrictions stipulated by us for the duration of the visit.

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.

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.

For more information on COVID-19, testing and symptoms, visit the ACT COVID-19 website.