Yesterday, the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Deena Hinshaw announced new measures aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19 in long-term care facilities.
The new Public Health Order, which applies to all licensed supportive living accommodation, requires
- Staff and operators to notify public health officials as soon as a case of COVID-19 is suspected, probable, or confirmed at a particular facility
- Staff who work at multiple facilities are required to immediately inform their supervisors if they have worked or are working at a facility where there is a confirmed case, or if they have been exposed to an individual with suspected, probable, or confirmed COVID-19
- Operators and managers to inform all families with residents in the facilities
- And other measures
A
suspected
COVID-19 outbreak is defined as:
a. One resident or staff member who exhibit any of the symptoms of COVID-19
A
probable
COVID-19 outbreak is defined as:
a. Two or more individuals (staff or residents) who are linked with each other who exhibit any of the symptoms of COVID-19
b. Individuals who are linked means they have a connection to each other (e.g. share a room, dine at the same table, received care from the same staff member, etc.)
A
confirmed
COVID-19 outbreak is defined as any of the following:
a. Any one individual confirmed to have COVID-19, including:
i. Any resident who is confirmed to have COVID-19
ii. Any staff member who is confirmed to have COVID-19
