This week, we're kicking off our 8-week online
Leadership Series. If you are interested in taking part in one of our four online courses, be sure to register soon! Email sfoster@werpn.com for more details.
Key Provincial Updates and Resources for Health Professionals Today, Premier Doug Ford and Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, Christine Elliott, released the first pillar of the province’s fall preparedness plan, Keeping Ontarians Safe: Preparing for Future Waves of COVID-19. The first pillar involves implementing the largest flu immunization campaign in Ontario’s history. This pillar includes includes:
Ordering 5.1 million flu vaccine doses in partnership with the federal government and other provinces and territories, 700,000 more than the approximated usage last year. This includes 1.3 million high-dose vaccine doses for Ontario seniors, especially those with pre-existing health conditions;
Prioritizing early distribution of the flu vaccine for vulnerable
populations in long-term care homes, hospitals and retirement homes;
Investing an additional $26.5 million to purchase additional flu vaccine doses if required and made available through the national vaccine bulk procurement program;
For the first time in Ontario's history, improving access by allocating high-dose flu vaccines for seniors to participating pharmacies; and
Launching a public education campaign to encourage getting the flu shot.
Further details on the plan will be released in the coming days.
Over the weekend, the Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health and the Public Health Measures Table, announced it would be reducing limits on the number of people permitted to attend unmonitored and
private social gatherings across the entire province. Earlier this last week, the government imposed these restrictions in Toronto, Peel Region and Ottawa.
Last week, Premier Ford, joined by the Premiers of Quebec, Alberta and Premiers Legault, Kenney, and Manitoba, called on the federal government to increase funding to the provinces and territories, in order to strengthen frontline health care and move key infrastructure projects forward. The Premier reiterated this call yesterday.
Ontario joined provincial and territorial partners in calling for a significant increase to the federal Canada Health Transfer (CHT) to cover 35 per cent of provincial-territorial health costs (up from 22 per cent). Increases to the CHT will also help provinces and territories address urgent health system challenges in anticipation of a second wave of COVID-19.
Premiers also called on the federal government to reduce delays in federal approvals for infrastructure projects, and to invest an additional $10 billion per year over 10 years for shovel-ready projects.
Ontario is seeking at least 40 per cent of total costs for the $28.5 billion subway plan for the Greater Toronto Area, along with additional funding for broadband to expand and improve service in rural, remote and Northern communities. Federal support for these projects will accelerate economic recovery in Ontario and improve quality of life in affected communities. For more information, we encourage you to visit the Ministry of Health and Public Health Ontario website.
Key Federal Updates
Today, Federal public health leaders released modelling that showed that in the short-term, Canada's epidemic is set to keep growing, predicting up to 155,795 total cases and 9,300 deaths by Oct. 2, unless Canadians re-adopt the same degree of health precautions they took in the
early months of the pandemic.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau named former National Research Council head Iain Stewart the new president of the Public Health Agency of Canada. This follows the sudden resignation of agency president Tina Namiesniowski on Friday.
For more information, we encourage you to visit the Government of Canada website.
Daily Reports
As of 10:30AM today, Ontario reported 47,752 confirmed cases (increase of 478), 41,342 resolved cases, 2,832 deaths and 39,788 currently under investigation with lab results pending.
The Ministry is also reporting that 82 patients are hospitalized with COVID-19, 24 are in ICU and 11 are vented. To view these additional details: click here
Click Hereto read the latest Ministry of Health Daily Report **Please note, these reports are
intended for health professionals only and we request that you not share this with the public.
World Health Organization Situation Reports are also available here
In the News For an interactive map tracking all cases across Canada and internationally, click here
Below are some key stories from today that may be of interest to our members:
We encourage RPNs looking for employment opportunities to sign up on all the platforms noted above.
We will continue to monitor this situation and keep you updated as more information becomes available. Thank you for the important work that you're doing and the sacrifices you're making to keep Ontarians safe. We appreciate everything that you're doing each and every day.
Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact Tiff Blair at tblair@werpn.com
Sincerely,
WeRPN Team
WeRPN 5025 Orbitor Drive Building 5, Suite 200 Mississauga, Ontario L4W 4Y5
