Community Services care teams are limiting face-to-face appointments (with exceptions for high-risk individuals), pausing in-person group sessions and connecting with clients/families via telephone and other technologies during the provincial shutdown.
Community Services continue to offer in-person programming at Providence Care sites, in client’s homes and long-term care homes, however teams will be utilizing technology more during the shutdown. Care teams are limiting face-to-face appointments (with exceptions for high-risk individuals) and pausing in-person group sessions.
Community Services continue to provide care for clients at Providence Care locations across the region, in client’s homes, as well as long-term care homes. To help reduce the risk of community transmission of COVID-19, all programs have implemented alternate service delivery strategies, which may include:
- Connecting with clients/families or hosting groups via telephone or other technologies
- Limiting face-to-face appointments at community sites
- Reducing home visits
Please note exceptions will be made for high-risk individuals. Contact your Program Manager for more information.
Masks/Face Coverings
All clients and visitors are asked to bring a mask/face covering to wear at any Providence Care Community Services location. If you don’t have a face covering of your own, you will be provided a mask to use. Masks/face coverings must be worn for the duration of your visit.
Clients receiving services in their homes or areas outside of Providence Care facilities are strongly encouraged to wear a mask when receiving care.
Click here to learn how to put on and remove a mask/face covering properly.
Screening
All clients/visitors must answer the following questions before they are allowed to enter a Community Services site:
- Do you have a fever (temperature of ≥ 37.8°C)?
- Do you have any of the following symptoms:
- new or worsening cough
- sore throat
- shortness of breath
- chills
- runny nose, sneezing or nasal congestion (not due to other underlying reasons like seasonal allergies or post-nasal drip)
- difficulty swallowing
- new and/or unexplained headache
- unexplained fatigue/malaise
- unexplained nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or abdominal pain
- change in your sense of taste/smell
- Have you been tested for COVID-19 due to symptoms and are awaiting results? (asymptomatic/surveillance testing does not apply)
- Have you tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 20 days?
- In the last 14 days, have you:
- travelled outside of Ontario?
- travelled outside of Canada*?
- visited**/resided in or had guests from a location in Red or Grey*** zone or outside Ontario?
- In the last 14 days, have you had contact**** with a suspected***** or confirmed case of COVID-19?
*If yes, please note if visitor is an essential worker.
**Visited – spent greater than 15 minutes indoors or within an enclosed space.
***Red and Grey zone as per provincial framework.
****Contact: been advised by Public Health or your employer you have had contact with a
confirmed case, provided care, had similar close physical contact, or had lived with or otherwise
had close, prolonged contact without appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)
including: gown, gloves, mask and eye protection.
****Asymptomatic or surveillance testing in one of your contacts does not apply.
If you have answered YES to any of the above questions, do not visit.
All clients/visitors must also sign in during screening and provide their name, as well as a contact number.
Contact
If you have any questions about protective measures in place at Providence Care Community Services sites, please contact your Program Manager for more information.
