Ministry of Health Guidance Documents
Group Homes, Co-Living Settings, Shelters, and Residential Treatment Centres
* The new document is aligned with the government’s COVID-19 Action Plan for Vulnerable People, released on April 23, 2020, and replaces the former guidance documents for Group Homes and Co-Living Settings, Guidance for Homeless Shelters, and Guidance for Community-Based Mental Health and Addictions Service Providers in Residential Settings.
Hospice
Ministry of Children Community and Social Services
The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) recently released Interim Direction for Congregate Care Settings for the provincewide shutdown. This direction will be in effect from December 26, 2020 until January 23, 2021 for the WDG region. The new interim direction replaces previous guidelines and directions, which have been suspended:
- MCCSS Visitors Guidelines 2.0: Re-Opening Congregate Living Settings
- MCCSS Wave 2 Enhanced Precautions memos
- Operational Guideline on Universal Source Control.
Congregate living settings should review the Interim Direction to understand current requirements for essential visits, short-stay absences and outings, essential overnight absences, personal protective equipment use amongst staff, and precautions for settings in an active outbreak. All MCCSS-funded congregate living settings must follow this new interim direction. Congregate living settings that are not funded by MCCSS are recommended to follow this guidance as best practices for COVID-19 precautions
Public Health Ontario Resources
WDGPH Resources
- WDGPH Enhanced COVID-19 Surveillance Checklist for Congregate Settings
- Congregate Settings Tabletop Exercise Slides – October 28, 2020
- COVID-19 Tabletop Exercise – Tip Sheet for Dufferin County Facilities
- COVID-19 Tabletop Exercise – Tip sheet for Guelph and Wellington Facilities
Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC)
Public Health Ontario has posted a webinar, Foundations of COVID-19 Prevention and Control for Congregate Living Settings. The recording of the webinar and the presented slides are available here.
IPAC Checklists for Congregate Living Settings
- Checklist – COVID-19 Preparedness and Prevention in Congregate Living Settings
- Checklist - Managing COVID-19 Outbreaks in Congregate Living Settings
General Resources:
- Infection prevention and control fundamentals – provides links to key resources
- How to keep your distance
- How to self-isolate while working
- Self-Isolation: Guide for caregivers, household members and close contacts
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
- How to Wear a Surgical Mask
- How to put on and take off PPE videos:
- Putting on and taking off PPE handout
- When and how to wear a mask for the general public
- Mask use for non-healthcare workers
- Droplet and contact precautions in non-acute care facilities
- Masking for source control of COVID-19: Considerations for workers in non-healthcare settings
- IPAC recommendations for use of PPE for care of individuals with suspect or confirmed COVID-19
- Conservation and disposal of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for non-healthcare providers during COVID-19 pandemic *last updated May 19, 2020
- COVID-19: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Non-Medical Masks in Congregate Living Settings (Public Health Ontario)
General cleaning and disinfection:
- WDGPH COVID-19 Guidance: Checklist for Cleaning and Disinfection in Congregate Settings
- Public Health Ontario - Cleaning and disinfection for public settings
- Public Health Agency of Canada - Cleaning and disinfecting public spaces during COVID-19
- Health Canada - Hard surface disinfectants and hand sanitizers
Signage
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Please visit our Signs and Posters page
Screening and Testing
- The Ministry of Health guidance document for each sector describes the screening process and actions to take based on the screening result.
- COVID-19 self-assessment
- COVID-19 reference document for symptoms
- COVID-19 provincial testing guidance update
- COVID-19 Patient Screening Guidance Document