The Medical Officer of Health at KFL&A Public Health issued a Class Order pursuant to Section 22 of the Ontario Health Protection and Promotion Act, 1990 to enforce the following requirements for owners and operators of home and community care organizations.
- To ensure staff are aware of and practicing appropriate infection prevention and control (IPAC) practices.
- To conduct regular IPAC audits and provide education to ensure any deficiencies are corrected.
- To recommend to clients and families of clients who are receiving services wear a face covering (or preferably a medical grade mask) while employees are in the home.
- To ensure all staff providing services requiring close personal contact or personal care in the community and home care settings provide a negative COVID-19 test result to their employer every two weeks, regardless of symptoms. This is asymptomatic surveillance swabbing and individuals may continue working while awaiting their test results. More frequent surveillance testing will be required if community status level changes to Orange, Red, or Grey.
- To maintain records of the education sessions, audits, and attestations for submission to KFL&A Public Health as requested.
“Enforcing stronger IPAC practices along with mandatory surveillance testing of staff working in community and home care settings are important measures that will continue to protect those most at risk for severe illness from COVID-19,” said Dr. Kieran Moore. “This order will strengthen our ability to identify positive cases, reduce the risk of people contracting COVID-19, and preserve the capacity of our health care system to respond and provide care for those who need it.”
Previously, a provincial directive for long-term care home surveillance testing and access to homes was issued by the Minister of Long-Term Care pursuant to section 174.1 of the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007 that mandates regular surveillance testing for staff, students and volunteers that worked in long-term care homes. This class order will add surveillance testing for community and home care settings.
This class order is effective immediately on December 10, 2020 and will remain in effect until such time as the Medical Officer of Health determines it is no longer required. Operators and individuals who are not in compliance with this order can be charged and fined.
To learn more about COVID-19, how you can protect yourself and what to do if you suspect you may be at risk, visit www.Kflaph.ca/Coronavirus.
