Our values, vision, and mission together with your well-being and the well-being of people who use our services continue to be our top priority during the current pandemic.
This week, look for the following updates:
STAY AT HOME ORDER ONTARIO – Visits
On April 16th, 2021 Premier Doug Ford announced additional restrictions for Ontario in order to combat the third wave of COVID-19 that is currently enveloping Ontario and threatening to overwhelm our health care system. These additional orders included messaging that limited all types of visits, including outdoors, between households. MCCSS has maintained that enhanced precautions are to be applied to all of our locations in Ontario during this time. Enhanced precautions as outlined by MCCSS allows for visits from essential visitors to continue. For more information about who is classified as an essential visitor view the COVID-19 Current Activity Restrictions document.
Christian Horizons is encouraging that in person visits when possible be postponed until after the stay at home orders are over. If essential in person visits are to take place, physical distancing, masks, eye protection and any other relevant IPAC procedures must be followed to ensure safety. Additionally it would be encouraged that these visits take place outdoors. For more information on the restrictions that apply from MCCSS please see the document below:
- COVID-19 Weekly Preparedness Checklist
- The COVID-19 Weekly Preparedness Checklist has been updated for the week of April 22nd to April 29th.
- The Hand Sanitizer Recall List (on the U:\\ drive) was updated (Apr. 7th, 2021), please confirm the removal of recalled sanitizers from all locations.
RAPID TESTING FOR COVID 19
Christian Horizons is working to introduce rapid antigen testing for COVID-19 at our direct support locations throughout Ontario and Saskatchewan as another precaution to ensure a safe work environment. A rapid antigen test for COVID-19 is a self administered nares swab (not a deep nasal swab), with observation from a trained user, that produces results within 15 minutes. If someone were to test positive for COVID-19 with a rapid antigen test a confirmation test from a COVID-19 testing location would need to be completed afterwards.
Completing a rapid antigen test is recommended to be completed 2-3 times a week. The completion of a rapid antigen test does not replace the need for current infection prevention and control practices but adds another layer of protection for employees and the people who use our services. Additional information about this initiative will be discussed on Friday at our webinar.
COVID-19 VACCINE WEBINARS
This week there will be a webinar on Friday April 23rd at 2pm register here, the following will be covered:
- Updates on the available vaccines within Canada
- Variants of Concern
- Update about the introduction of rapid testing
- District specific breakout sessions will take place in order to discuss any local developments since our last webinar.
COVID-19 VACCINE UPDATE
An excellent plain language video from P4P Planning Network about Getting Ready for your COVID Vaccine can be found here.
Thank you for your continued work and dedication, your commitment and tenacity to provide the best service and supports is exceptional!
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Questions or suggestions about any of the resources listed on the site?
Send us an email to let us know: covid-19@christian-horizons.org