One of the worst aspects of the Covid-19 pandemic was not visiting loved ones in hospitals, but these rules have been relaxed in some cases in Western Cape government hospitals. 

The province's Department of Health said hospital visits were an essential part of a patient's recovery, and helped anxious family and loved ones cope, particularly for the young and the elderly. 

These are some of the changes to visiting rules: 

• Visitors and escorts are only allowed at health facilities under special circumstances;
• Formal screening of visitors and escorts at entrances is not required;
• All visitors and escorts should wear masks at all times, sanitise their hands, and maintain physical distance from other people;

Outpatients:

• One escort is only allowed for patients under 18 years old, and those disabled, vulnerable, or weak.

Emergency Unit:

• Patients younger than 18 years: One escort allowed to accompany the patient into an emergency room.
• A maximum of two family members are allowed to be present at a time for end of life patients.
• One escort may be allowed depending on the situation for disabled or vulnerable patients. 
• One escort is allowed for all other patients only when the unit is not crowded. This is assessed case-by-case.

Inpatient adults:

• Visitors must report to the ward nursing station, wash or sanitise hands, not touch the bed or any surfaces, and avoid hugging, kissing and holding hands with the patient.
• Visiting time slot of 60 minutes per day. 
• Confirm with the hospital what the ward's visiting hours are before visiting.
• End of life patients are allowed to be visited by loved ones: more people and longer times are at the discretion of the ward manager.

Inpatients paediatric:

• One parent/caregiver can be with the patient.
• Parent/caregiver can alternate with another parent/caregiver, but only one is allowed with the patient at a time.
• More family members allowed for end of life patients, restricted to two persons at a time for 60 minutes: more people and longer time slots at the discretion of the ward manager.

Neonatal patients:

• Mother is encouraged to remain with the patient or regularly visit.
• Birthing partner or one designated person can visit daily for 60 minutes. Longer visitation at discretion of ward manager.
• More family members allowed for end of life patients, restricted to two persons at a time for 60 minutes. 
• More people and longer time slots at the discretion of the ward manager.

Maternity and labour:

• Birthing partners should wear a surgical mask and remain at the top end of the bed at all times.
• Covid-19 positive patients in labour: one birthing partner allowed during active labour at the discretion of the ward manager and provided there is sufficient privacy and space.
• Covid-19 negative patients in labour: one birthing partner is allowed during active labour if sufficient space and privacy is available.
• C-section: Covid-19 positive patients: One birthing partner can be in the operating room if they have been fully vaccinated or had Covid-19 in the past 90 days. No changing of birthing partners allowed.
• Covid-19 negative patients: One birthing partner can be in the operating room. No changing of birthing partners.
• The birthing partner is allowed to remain with the mother in the recovery room and accompany her to the postnatal ward, where they can stay for a short while.
• Birthing partners are not allowed in the theatre, but can visit mother and baby for 30 minutes in the postnatal ward.
• Teenagers in labour: A birthing partner will be accommodated at the discretion of the ward manager.
• Postnatal ward: Two people are allowed to visit with the mother and the newborn for 60 minutes daily during the visiting hour for the postnatal ward.

Covid-19 and People Under Investigation (for Covid-19) patients:

• No visitors are allowed.
• Can drop off parcels (toiletries, food, books, etc.)
• Exceptions will be made for the end of life patients at the discretion of the ward manager.

Adult patients in non-Covid-19 general wards:

• Two people are allowed to visit once per day for 60 minutes during the designated visiting hour.
• Patients who have had a death, serious illness/injury, or major event in their family (if the patient is mentally alert) are allowed extra visitors at the discretion of the ward manager.
• End of life patients are allowed to have extra visitors at the discretion of the ward manager.

Adult patients in non-Covid-19 High Care, ICU, and Isolation Ward.

• No visits are allowed because they are high-risk patients.
• Parcels (toiletries, food, books, etc.) can be dropped off.
• End of life patients are allowed to be visited by a few loved ones. Visits are restricted to one person at a time for 30 minutes once per day. More people and longer visitation at the discretion of the ward manager.

Psychiatric and rehabilitation patients in non-Covid-19 Acute Care and Long Stay wards:

• Two people are allowed to visit once per day for 60 minutes during the designated visiting hour. 
• The number of ward visitors to be managed at the discretion of the ward manager as space is limited.
• Patients who have had a death, serious illness/injury, or major event in their family (if the patient is mentally alert) are allowed extra visitors at the discretion of the ward manager.
• End of life patients are allowed to have extra visitors at the discretion of the ward manager.