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Vaughan Regional Medical Center modified its visitation policy on Tuesday regarding the coronavirus pandemic.

Effective immediately, VRMC is limiting entry points to its facility and screening everyone – employees, patients and the one well visitor over the age of 16 – who enters the building.

Everyone entering the facility should come through the emergency room or main lobby. All other entry points will be closed until further notice.

All patients, visitors and staff entering the facility will also be screened with questions regarding respiratory symptoms and travel history, per CDC recommendations. Patients with symptoms will immediately be provided masks and managed per CDC guidelines. Based on the screening, visitors may also be asked to take their temperature, speak further with someone, or come back at a later date. Screening will occur upon every entry.

The cafeteria and gift shop at VRMC are also closed until further notice.

VRMC CEO David McCormack said the hospital is taking the necessary steps to make sure the patients, employees and visitors are safe.

“We know that these increased precautions may seem concerning,” McCormack said. “We do not want to cause alarm – but we do want to send a clear message to our community that we are prepared, responding appropriately and are committed to protecting the well-being of our patients, visitors, employees and community.”