Maternity and paediatric wards in Murrumbidgee public hospitals will be the first to see some relaxation in visitor restrictions.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In response to the coronavirus lockdown, hospitals significantly tightened the restrictions on visitors in April.
As of Monday, June 22, patients in maternity and paediatrics will be able to have two designated visitors, up from the current one.
Cherie Puckett, the MLHD's director of clinical operations, said the health service was taking a phased approach to relaxing the restrictions, in the light of low rates of community transmission of COVID-19.
While the changes at this stage apply only to maternity and paediatrics, Ms Puckett said restrictions to other wards were being reviewed each week.
However, there is also a certain amount of latitude, depending on individual cases, she said.
"In circumstances such as end-of-life care, we are quite flexible. Each case has to be individually assessed. There are some cases that can change hour by hour," Ms Puckett said.
"There is still just a little hint of community transmission occurring out there, not so much in our district, but we're hearing about Melbourne and Sydney and it just takes one person and it can become significant."
Ms Puckett said the MLHD was still required to screen every person who enters a facility, staff as well as visitors, to check their temperatures and record their details.