Threat of SARS Hits Northwest

All visitors to hospitals in Northwestern Ontario will now be screened for SARS.
Karen Essery of the Northwestern Health Unit says visitors will be questioned about their current health, whether they have been traveling and if they have been in hospital recently.
Essery says if anyone believes they have symptoms of SARS, they are asked to stay home and call their doctor or the Health Unit to prevent the infection of other people.
At risk are those who have travelled to Asia recently or those who have been near hospitals in Toronto.
For hospitals…A visitor restriction notice has also been issued.
No visitors are allowed except for
1. Parent or Guardian of an admitted child
2. People visiting Palliative Care patients.
3. People visiting Critically ill patients.
4. A designated support person of a maternity patient.
5. Designated Caregivers.
The number of visitors for each patient will also be restricted.
Some facilities have also cancelled certain procedures such as surgeries and physiotherapy.
There have been no reported cases of SARS in the Northwest.
6 people have died from the ailment in Canada.