COVID-19 pandemic information for patients, families and visitors

Please note: Information provided here is subject to change.

As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to impact ourF community and the world, St. Joseph’s has taken all courses of action to proactively limit the spread of COVID-19. Our primary concern is always the health and well-being of our patients/residents and their families as well as our staff, physicians and volunteers. 

Masking

While the Ontario government has lifted mask mandates for hospitals, the Chief Medical Officer of Health continues to strongly recommend wearing masks in public settings. Provincial mask mandates for long-term care remain in place.  

Masks slow the spread of COVID-19 and other viruses. St. Joseph’s, in alignment with health care providers across the region continues to require everyone in our buildings to wear a mask. Masking is also encouraged outdoors. 

Requiring everyone to wear a mask is one way we can continue to protect our vulnerable patients and residents from potential exposure to COVID-19. Masks work! Watch this video to learn more. 

Please note: Children under 2 are not required to wear a mask.  

Quick Links for this page:

• Essential Caregiver Presence
• Questions asked at screening entrances
• Where to get a COVID-19 test
• COVID-19 vaccination
• Important information for patients coming for care
• Information for Urgent Care patients
• Information for ambulatory clinic and surgery patients
• Screening at entrances
• Help for sexual assault and domestic violence
• Family Medical and Dental Centre
• COVID-19 Cases and Outbreak Areas at St. Joseph's

Various measures have been put in place at St. Joseph’s in accordance with guidance from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Long Term Care. Below is what patients and visitors can expect when coming to any St. Joseph’s site. This includes: St. Joseph’s Hospital, Parkwood Institute Main Building, Parkwood institute Mental Health Care Building, Mount Hope Centre for Long Term Care, Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care, and St. Joseph's Family Medical and Dental Centre.

Self-screening questions at entrances

Do you have any of the following symptoms:

• Fever (37.8° C or greater) and/or chills 
• Cough or barking cough (croup)
• Shortness of breath
• Decrease or loss of smell or taste 
• Muscle aches/joint pain 
• Fatigue
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy/congested nose
• Headache
• Nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea

In the last 10 days:

• Have you tested positive for COVID-19, including on a rapid antigen test, or a home base self-testing kit?
• Have you been identified as a "close contact" of someone (regardless of whether you live with them or not) who has tested positive for COVID-19 or has symptoms consistent with COVID-19?

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Where to get a COVID-19 test

If you require a COVID-19 test before your appointment at St. Joseph’s, you will be told well in advance and provided information on where to get tested. If you have not been informed, then you do not need a test before coming for your appointment.  

The Ministry of Health's COVID-19 website provides information on: Ontario's free rapid test kit program and where to obtain rapid tests; and on clinical assessment centres where you can get assessed, tested, and provided treatment options for COVID-19.

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COVID-19 vaccination

Visitors and essential caregivers will no longer be required to show proof of vaccination. For information on vaccination requirements for essential caregivers visitors to long-term care or Veterans Care, see our Essential Caregiver Presence Guidelines.

The Province of Ontario is responsible for COVID-19 vaccination, including prioritization of Ontarians. St. Joseph’s Health Care London, along with all Ontario hospitals, must follow the provincial vaccination plan. St. Joseph’s IS NOT providing the vaccine to patients at this time except for those with allergies to the COVID-19 vaccine (see below). As well, physicians and nursing staff cannot facilitate requests by patients to be prioritized for the vaccine.

For patients with allergies to the COVID-19 vaccine, St. Joseph’s Allergy Clinic, located at St. Joseph's Hospital, is providing vaccinations to eligible individuals. The Allergy Clinic will see patients by referral only who require consultation with a clinical allergist/immunologist as per Ministry of Health guidelines. For COVID-19 vaccination recommendations for special populations, including those with allergies, please refer to COVID-19 Vaccination Recommendations for Special Populations. For additional information on allergy and COVID-19 vaccines please refer to Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology statement on COVID-19 vaccination

For up-to-date information on the vaccine, including the province’s vaccination roll out plan, visit the COVID-19 vaccines for Ontario webpage. For vaccine eligibility in London-Middlesex, visit the Middlesex-London Health Unit website. 

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Important information for patients coming for care: 

St. Joseph’s is closely monitoring the prevalence of COVID-19 in our community, which could impact our services as the pandemic evolves. Patients with appointments will be notified directly if there is a change in their appointment. At this time, there are no changes to patient appointments, including surgeries. Patients with scheduled appointments should ensure they come to their appointment.

• Please keep your appointment: It’s critical, for their health and safety, that patients do not miss a scheduled appointment. Those who cannot attend their appointment are asked to call their physician’s office or clinic so that the spot can be given to another patient. 
• Our buildings are safe to enter: Stringent safety practices are in place to protect the well-being of patients. All patients, residents and essential visitors are asked to self-screen before entry and are provided with masks to wear while in our buildings. Physical distancing is being maintained in our clinics and throughout our facilities, and specialized cleaning is done before and after each patient visit. See Information for ambulatory clinic and surgery patients and Screening at entrances.
• Leave plenty of time: Screening at our entrances takes extra time. Only certain entrances are open for patients and essential visitors. Patients, residents and essential visitors will be asked to self-screen for COVID-19 before entering our sites. Visitors will also be asked to remove their personal masks and gloves prior to entry and provided with a hospital mask. Please check which entrances you are permitted to enter and leave an extra 10 minutes for screening BEFORE your appointment check-in time. See Screening Entrances.
• Your support person may not be able to come in: Only one essential caregiver will be allowed to enter the hospital with you when you arrive for your appointment. To ensure the safety of our patients, all other caregivers or visitors will be asked to wait outside the building. A patient who has mobility, cognitive or translation needs can identify/designate an essential caregiver. Based on space restrictions and the need for physical distancing, essential caregivers may be asked to wait outside the exam room. See Essential caregiver presence.
• Our Urgent Care Centre is safe: St. Joseph’s Urgent Care Centre is a safe place for individuals requiring care for non-life-threatening illness or injury. It is open 365 days a year and has on-site access to medical imaging and laboratory services. See Information for Urgent Care Patients.
• Help for sexual assault and domestic violence: St. Joseph’s Regional Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Treatment Program is available 24/7, virtually and in-person. See Help for sexual assault and domestic violence.

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Information for Urgent Care patients

Please be reassured: physical distancing doesn't mean avoiding hospital if you are sick and need care. Attend St. Joseph’s Urgent Care Centre, or one of LHSC’s Emergency Departments, if you have a serious health concern during the pandemic. However, if you think you have symptoms of COVID-19, please go to one of two London Community Assessment Centres. If you have shortness of breath or are unable to catch your breath, call 911. Visit the Middlesex-London Health Unit for more information about what to do if you think you have COVID-19.

Patients who attend our Urgent Care Centre will be provided with a mask upon arrival and asked to wear it for the duration of their visit. 

PLEASE NOTE: Due to COVID-19 self-screening at the entrance to the Urgent Care Centre, patients should be appropriately dressed for the weather in case they must wait outside before safely entering the building.

For more information on where to go for care, including when to go to St. Joseph’s Urgent Care Centre, versus LHSC’s Emergency Departments, visit our Urgent Care page.

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Information for ambulatory/outpatient clinic and surgery patients:

Please note:  Essential caregivers for outpatients are only permitted under certain circumstances. Please review the essential caregiver for outpatients information before arriving. Due to some space challenges, clinic staff and physicians may request that ONLY PATIENTS be permitted to enter the clinic and/or exam room.

Patients coming for surgery will receive information and instructions before arriving.

Patients and their essential accompanying visitors who are attending outpatient appointments will be provided with a mask upon arrival and asked to wear it for the duration of their visit. We ask that you use our masks instead of wearing your own masks when attending your appointment. 

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Screening at entrances

All patients, residents and essential visitors are required to self-screen before entering St. Joseph’s sites. At each entrance there is a sign with screening questions to guide you through this process. Before entering you will be asked if you have completed and passed the self-screen. Those who fail screening will not be permitted to enter. All individuals are required to enter through main entrances only. Signs will direct you.

Please note: At St. Joseph's Hospital, the tunnel into the hospital from the Grosvenor Street parking garage is available to patients and visitors Monday to Friday, 5:30 am to 3:00 pm. After hours and on weekends and holidays, patients and visitors are directed to Grosvenor Entrance 2.

Site maps of self-screening entrances: 

• St. Joseph's Hospital - parking is available in the Grosvenor Parking Garage (open 24 hours) or in the Cheapside Garage (5:30 am - 5:30 pm Monday to Friday.)
  • Grosvenor Entrance 1 - Zone A: 6 am - 6 pm, Mon - Fri (swipe access available for staff and physicians after hours)
  • Grosvenor Entrance 2 - Zone B:
    --8 am - 6 pm, Mon - Fri - for Urgent Care and Endoscopy patients only
    --6 pm - 8 am, Mon - Fri and 8 am to 4 pm weekends and holidays - for all patients and visitors 
    (swipe access available for staff and physicians after hours)
  • Entrance 3 - Zone B: CLOSED
  • Staff Entrance - Zone B: 24/7 swipe access for staff and physicians 
  • Cheapside Entrance 4 - Zone C: 5:30 am - 8 pm, Mon - Fri 
    (swipe access available for staff and physicians after hours.)
  • Tunnel - accessible from the Grosvenor Street parking garage. Available Monday to Friday, 5:30 am to 3:00 pm. After hours, weekends/holidays, please use Grosvenor Entrance 2.
    (swipe access available for staff and physicians after hours.)
• Mount Hope
  • Entrance 1 - Zone Z: CLOSED
  • Entrance 2 - Zone W (main entrance on Grosvenor): 5 am - 12 am
  • Tunnel - accessible from the Grosvenor Street parking garage. Available Monday to Friday, 5:30 am to 3:00 pm. After hours, weekends/holidays, please use the Mount Hope main entrance on Grosvenor Street.
• Parkwood Institute Main Building
  • Entrance 1 - Zone A (Day Hospital entrance) open 8 am to 4:15 pm for patients/visitors. Outside these hours, please use Entrance 2, Zone C. (Also open to staff and physicians during these hours.)
  • Entrance 2 - Zone C: open 24 hours/7 days a week
  • Entrance 3 - Zone B: CLOSED
  • Entrance 4, Zone D (Arthur J. Hobbins entrance) open 7:30 am to 5 pm for patients being dropped off for appointments. Outside these hours, please use Entrance 2, Zone C.
    (Swipe access available for staff and physicians after hours.)
  • Entrance 5, Zone E (Western Counties Wing) open for visitors to the Veterans Care Program and a surveillance testing location from 8 am to 4 pm. (Also open to staff and physicians during these hours.) 
• Parkwood Institute Mental Health Care Building
  • Main Entrance - Zone F: open 24 hours/7 days a week
• Southwest Centre
  • Main Entrance - Zone C: open 24 hours/7 days a week

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Help for sexual assault and domestic violence available 24/7

Do you need help? The pandemic has significantly contributed to a rise in domestic violence and sexual assault. St. Joseph’s Regional Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Treatment Program is available 24/7, virtually and in person. A nurse is onsite at St. Joseph’s Hospital at all times who is specially trained to support those who have experienced an acute sexual assault and/or domestic violence, as well victims of human trafficking. Care and support are offered to individuals of all ages, sexual orientation or gender identity – at the time of the assault and in the months following.

There are many options for care. If you need help, call the program at any time, day or night, at 519-646-6100, ext. 64224.

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St. Joseph’s Family Medical and Dental Centre

St. Joseph's Family Medical and Dental Centre on Platt’s Lane is providing care to patients in-person and virtually.  Patients are asked to call to book an appointment to be seen by our care providers during the day or in the evening clinic. 

Please note: COVID-19 testing is NOT being done at St. Joseph’s Family Medical and Dental Centre.

Patients with significant symptoms (breathing difficulties) should go to the Emergency Department. 

Perimeter screening is underway at St. Joseph’s Family Medical and Dental Centre. Patients with appointments will be stopped at the front door and screened for COVID-19.

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COVID-19 cases at St. Joseph's and Current Outbreak Areas

This information is updated when case numbers change.
Last Updated: March 22, 2023 

Outbreak Areas

None

An outbreak can be declared in long-term care when there is one positive case of COVID-19. Outbreaks are determined by the Middlesex-London Health Unit.

*Health care workers include staff, physicians, volunteers and students

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