Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information

What patients and families need to know before coming to the Montreal Children’s Hospital

Please accept statistics, marketing cookies to watch this video.

What patients and families need to know before coming to the Montreal Children’s Hospital

Current as of: May 13, 2022.

Thanks to the following measures, we have been able to successfully prevent and control the spread in our hospital of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.  

We are counting on your cooperation in continuing to write our success story! Please familiarize yourself with the following measures before coming to the Montreal Children’s Hospital. 

 

MASKS

As of May 14, 2022, masks are no longer mandatory in public places in Quebec, with the exception of healthcare facilities where masks remain MANDATORY.    

The Montreal Children’s Hospital asks that the community respect the following sanitary measures in order to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 and any other infections, and help protect our patients.  

Please note that all COVID-19 health guidelines located on this page remain in effect. 

We require that all people 10 and over wear a hospital-grade mask inside our hospitals, long-term care facilities, and administrative buildings. Please change your mask upon arrival for a new hospital-grade mask.  

We strongly recommend that children between 2 and 10 years of age wear a pediatric procedure mask, whenever possible. Masks that best fits your child’s face will be available when you arrive.  

We ask that you and your child wear a mask for all interactions with our staff or other families, except when the mask must be removed for an examination. In addition, you may remove your mask for a brief period while you are actively eating, drinking, taking oral medication, or for identification purposes.

 

HAND HYGIENE

Hand hygiene helps prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other viruses and bacteria that we may carry on our hands or gloves.  

We ask that you and your child perform hand hygiene on arrival, as well as each time that you enter and exit your child’s room or exam room, and before and after glove use. Remember that gloves do not replace hand hygiene! 

For most situations, you can use the alcohol-based hand rub. It is highly effective against most viruses and bacteria, including the virus that causes COVID-19. However, when your hands are visibly soiled or if your child infected with C. difficile or norovirus, you should wash your hands with soap and water. Don’t forget to wash your hands with soap and water before and after eating, and after using a restroom!  

 

KEEPING A 2-METRE DISTANCE FROM OTHERS 

Another way you can prevent the spread of COVID-19 is by staying away from other family bubbles. We call it physical (or social) distancing.  

We recommend that you and your child stay at least 2 metres (6 feet) away from other families, especially in waiting areas. We have added physical dividers in some areas to allow us to reduce that distance while still keeping you and your child safe.

 

VACCINATION FOR CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS

Most children between the ages of 5 and 18 years are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine.   

For more information, visit the Quebec government’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign website. 

To learn more about vaccination for children and teenagers, visit the Quebec.ca website. Speak with your child’s pediatrician if you have questions or click the link below to book an appointment for you or your child.

To book a vaccine appointment, use the ClicSanté website. 

 

FAMILY PRESENCE POLICY

Since March 12, 2022, we have updated our Family Presence Policy to ensure the safety of our patients and staff and to respect Public Health guidelines to limit exposure to COVID-19.  

Proof of protection against COVID-19 is no longer required to enter the Montreal Children’s Hospital. Still, one of the most effective tools to prevent transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19 is vaccination.

Parents and caregivers who test positive for COVID-19 must wait a minimum of ten (10) days before coming to the hospital.

  • Presence of families of hospitalized children (inpatients):
    • Up to three (3) visitors may stay with a hospitalized child at a time.
    • Two (2) parents can stay overnight (CPAP and BiPAP not permitted). However, please note that the rooms are not adapted for more than one overnight visitor. It is not possible to sleep in the child’s bed.
    • Children (siblings) are permitted to visit on most units, with the exception of the following areas: hematology-oncology (under 3 years old not permitted), neonatal intensive care (under 14 years old not permitted) and psychiatry (under 12 years old not permitted). They must be able to wear a mask when a staff member is in the room and must be supervised by an adult.
    • Certain additional exceptions may apply; we invite you to confirm with the unit.
  • Children coming to the Emergency Department: 
    • Due to limited space in our waiting rooms and to ensure social distancing, we ask that you limit yourself to one accompanying person per child registered to see a physician. Please avoid bringing siblings.

  • Children coming for a clinic, a test or a treatment: 

    • Two (2) parents or caregivers may be present.
    • Siblings of the patient are not permitted.
    • If you or your child are feeling unwell prior to an appointment, please let us know. We will take extra precautions by seeing you in a clinic space away from other patients or we will reschedule your appointment at a time when you or your child are feeling better. You will not be placed at the bottom of the waitlist. 

Coming to the hospital with COVID-19 symptoms puts patients and staff at risk.

We encourage you to talk to your child about these measures so that they know what to expect. Let them know that their and their family’s health and well-being are our top priority. We appreciate your collaboration in this exceptional situation. Our main priority is to keep you and your child safe. We thank you for your understanding.  

 

BEFORE COMING TO THE HOSPITAL

If you are worried about COVID‑19 or if you have flu-like symptoms or gastroenteritis symptoms or symptoms of COVID‑19, you can call, from Monday to Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m and Saturday and Sunday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., 418-644-4545, 514-644-4545, 450-644-4545, 819-644-4545 and 1-877-644-4545 (toll free) elsewhere in Québec. For the hearing impaired (TTY), call 1-800-361 9596 (toll free). For more information, visit www.quebec.ca/en/coronavirus .

For more information on COVID-19: Québec.ca/coronavirus

 

AUTHORIZED HOSPITAL ENTRANCES 

For screening purposes, all patients and families must use the: 

  • S1 entrance (from the underground parking or metro)  

  • RC entrance (ground floor, block A and B). 

 

COVID-19 TESTING CENTRE

The MUHC’s COVID-19 Test Centre is open 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. for:

  • MUHC patients with appointments for surgery or treatment who have been confirmed as requiring COVID-19 testing
  • MUHC employees

For members of the public, you may use rapid tests, available at most pharmacies.

Please arrive no later than 5:30 p.m. to allow for 6 p.m. closing time.

Register for your test

You do not need an appointment for a test. However, we require that you register before you arrive on the secure Québec COVID-19 Screening Platform. Open the link in Google Chrome. If you have difficulty accessing or filling out online forms, we will assist you on site. Do not delay your test. 

Location: Level S1 of the underground parking lot near the entrance to the Adult Emergency Department (1001 Decarie Blvd., Montréal QC H4A 3J1)

How to get there:

  • By metro, Vendôme station, direct access to the MUHC
  • By train, Vendôme train station, direct access to the MUHC
  • By car, via Decarie boul, southbound. Or take the Sherbrooke or De Maisonneuve exits from Highway 15 South. Park your car in the parking lot and walk to the collection centre.

Please wear a mask upon arrival at the site.

 

GIFT GIVING

At this time, we cannot accept any gifts, including home-baked goods, from patients and families. However, if you want to give back to the hospital, please contact the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation to make a donation. Thank you for your ongoing support and consideration!  

This page needs an update? Report it here!