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COVID-19 Info Hub
Coming to SickKids? Learn what to expect ahead of your appointment or stay.
Screening
All patients and family caregivers will self screen at hospital entrances for COVID-19 risk factors and symptoms. If you are not feeling well or have any symptoms, please make every effort to find someone else who can bring your child to the hospital.
If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms in the last 10 days, had close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, had close contact with somebody experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have recently travelled internationally, please contact your clinic or health-care provider before coming to the hospital:
- Runny nose
- Nasal congestion
- Cough
- Fever and/or chills
- Shortness of breath
- Decrease or loss of taste or smell
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Muscle aches
- Nausea/vomiting
- Diarrhea
SickKids, like all hospitals, is a high-risk setting. If you have tested positive for COVID-19, you cannot visit SickKids for at least 10 days since the positive test or onset of symptoms. If you have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19, you cannot visit SickKids for at least 10 days since your last contact with them. All this applies regardless of your vaccination status.
Family presence
Please note that Family Presence and Patient Visiting for family caregivers, siblings and visitors has returned to the pre-pandemic policy, and depends on the area of SickKids you are visiting or staying:
- Inpatient Units: Up to 4 family caregivers/siblings/visitors are welcome at a time at the bedside during regular visiting hours (9 a.m. to 9 p.m.) and 1 overnight (9 p.m. to 6 a.m.).
- CCCU/PICU/NICU: Up to 2 family caregivers are welcome at a time at the bedside and 2 overnight.
- Emergency Department (ED): Up to 2 family caregivers are welcome at a time at the bedside.
- Outpatient clinics: Up to 2 family caregivers are welcome to accompany their child to clinic appointments and tests.
Note: Identification badges/stickers will be worn by all family caregivers, siblings and visitors. Everyone 12 and over must self-screen for viral symptoms before entering. All patients as well as children under 12 will be actively screened. Families visiting outpatient clinics and the Emergency Department with siblings are strongly encouraged to make use of Family Spaces due to space constraints.
What do we need to know before coming to SickKids?
Some safety measures remain in place for the protection of patients, families and staff. These include masking in certain areas of the hospital, distancing (whenever possible) and cleaning our hands frequently, as well as limiting our contacts/gathering with others by asking patients and their caregivers to stay in their rooms as much as possible. Everyone 12 and over must self-screen for viral symptoms before entering. All patients as well as children under 12 will be actively screened.
What should I do if I have symptoms and I need to bring my child to SickKids?
Given the rapid transmission of the latest COVID-19 variants, we’re asking all caregivers to avoid coming to the hospital if they have any symptoms. If your child has an appointment or needs to come to the Emergency Department, please make every effort to make arrangements to have another family member or caregiver accompany your child if you’re unwell. If you have any symptoms, or are unsure what to do, please call your provider in advance of your visit for further direction and information.
How does my vaccination status impact my ability as a caregiver to be in the hospital?
Vaccination status will not impact your ability to enter SickKids. However, we continue to encourage you to get your vaccination as it can help prevent severe disease and protects you and those around you. The latest COVID-19 variants are much more contagious than previous variants, and fully vaccinated people are still able to get COVID-19 and pass it on to others.
How long do family caregivers have to wait before coming to SickKids after testing positive for COVID-19 or are in close contact with someone who has COVID-19?
As SickKids, like all hospitals, is a high-risk setting, anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 or is in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 cannot come to SickKids for at least 10 days since the positive test/onset of symptoms/last close contact, regardless of vaccination status. This timeframe is greater than what is allowed for lower-risk settings if you are fully vaccinated. Unless SickKids grants an exception, please wait the full 10 days before coming to the hospital.
Entrances
- Visitors can enter and exit SickKids using the Elizabeth Street entrance or the parking garage 24/7.
- The University Avenue entrance is open for hospital pick-ups and drop-offs from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday. It is closed on weekends and holidays.
- In addition to regular parking rates, SickKids offers discounted parking passes for parents of patients. Visit Parking for more information.
Masking guidelines
Masking is optional at SickKids for patients, families, and staff members, but anyone may wear a mask at any time if they choose. Here are the masking guidelines at SickKids:
- Masks will continue to be available at the main entrances of the hospital and within each department or clinical area.
- There may be times masks will need to be worn by staff and caregivers (e.g., patients in isolation).
- Wearing a mask is a personal choice and does not mean the person wearing a mask is sick.
- Caregivers, visitors, and siblings experiencing viral symptoms are asked to avoid coming to SickKids if they don’t need to be at the hospital.
- If a caregiver is unwell and their presence is essential to their child’s care, or they’re not able to arrange for an alternative caregiver, they are asked to stay in their child’s room as much as possible and wear a mask outside the room.
Scheduled care activity (surgeries & procedures)
SickKids continues to perform emergent, urgent and time-sensitive surgeries and procedures. To ensure that we have the capacity for any unplanned increase in hospital activity and that our clinical staff are available to provide care, some other surgeries and procedures may be rescheduled. We recognize that delays caused by the COVID-19 situation are difficult for patients and their families. SickKids will contact patients and families directly when it is time to reschedule surgeries and procedures that have been postponed due to the pandemic — there is no need to contact the hospital at this time.
My child has been waiting a long time for surgery and I haven’t heard any news. Why is it taking so long?
We know your child has been waiting for surgery for a very long time. We want you to know that we care and we have not forgotten about you. Unfortunately, there are thousands of children on our waitlist for surgery and it’s probably not a matter of months before we get to everyone, but years.
Can you tell me where my child is on the waitlist?
It’s not possible to say where your child is on the waitlist as it fluctuates constantly depending on the numbers of urgent and emergency cases.
How can I ensure the urgency of my child's surgery is being considered when it is rescheduled?
An ethics framework framework document and new waitlist management system was developed by our staff and family advisors to ensure we continue to treat patients fairly and equitably. The timing of surgeries and procedures will consider many factors to ensure patient needs are met in the safest and most timely manner possible.
Is the surgical waitlist situation showing any signs of improvement?
The situation doesn’t look like it’s going to get better very soon. While we have received additional funding thanks to the support of the government, there is more to the issue as we’re also facing a shortage of health-care workers, a shortage that is affecting the entire globe.
Why can’t SickKids hire more surgeons to get through the waitlist faster?
Every surgery is a team effort. The surgeon, while an integral part, requires support from many other staff members, including anesthesiologists, nurses (anesthetists and operating room), surgical technicians, residents or medical students, and physician assistants. We can’t proceed with surgeries safely unless we have a complete surgical team, and the lack of skilled health-care workers is holding us back from doing more.
If I receive a call saying my child could have the surgery done sooner at another hospital, what should I do?
We strongly recommend anyone who is offered a spot for surgery at a community hospital to take it and not wait for SickKids as these procedures don’t need to be done here.
What is SickKids doing to help address these issues?
Until we are able to ramp up our workforce through our multiple recruitment efforts, the situation will remain difficult. We continue to work hard with the resources we have to perform as many surgeries as possible, including on weekends when staff are available. We sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding. We will call you as soon as we have any news about scheduling your child’s surgery.
My child turned 18 and is still on the waitlist. What happens now?
We are committed to completing the care we started before it was interrupted by COVID-19 for all of our patients. If your child turned 18 during this time, there is no need to be concerned. Your health-care team will continue to care for your child until the surgery or procedure is finished, including any follow-up treatment or appointments that are necessary afterwards. In some cases, your child’s surgical team may consult with surgeons at an adult centre and, where appropriate, your child's care may be transitioned to an adult centre.
I am not very comfortable coming to SickKids. What are my options and what safety protocols are in place?
We will continue to offer virtual care first when possible, but if a surgery or other procedure needs to be performed, it will be necessary to come to the hospital. Safety is our number one priority at all times for everyone. For those coming to the hospital we are maintaining a number of safety measures to keep everyone healthy, including screening, masking in certain areas of the hospital, and physical distancing.
What supports are in place for my child if they are feeling anxious about having surgery or coming to the hospital?
Our staff are trained to support children who are anxious. Your health-care team can also connect you with our Child Life Specialists, who have a number of programs in place and prepared videos to help your child feel comfortable at all times at SickKids. You can also refer to the AboutKidsHealth COVID-19 Learning Hub for resources.
COVID-19 resources
COVID-19 Learning Hub on AboutKidsHealth
Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines and their safety and effectiveness.