Today, the provincial government made an
announcement regarding a temporary increase in wages for PSWs to attract and retain more of these health professionals in our system (further details below). We believe that PSWs play a vital role in supporting patients, residents and clients and that they deserve to be compensated fairly for this important work.
At the same time, we recognize this wage top up will further decrease the gap between PSWs and RPNs, and doesn't take into account the depth of knowledge and accountability required of nurses. It also doesn't take account of the financial toll that many RPNs have experienced after being limited to one workplace. In the coming days, we will be engaging with the government about this policy and advocating for additional supports for RPNs. We will keep you updated!
Key Provincial Updates and Resources for Health Professionals Today, Premier Ford and Minister Elliott announced a $461 million investment in order to provide a temporary wage increase for Ontario PSWs working in publicly-funded sectors. The wage increase is intended to help the province attract and retain the workforce needed to care for patients, clients, and residents throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Later this afternoon, the Ontario government updated its COVID-19 screening guidance for schools and child care by adding two sets of questions about symptoms, as well as information to help parents make decisions about whether
their children should attend school or child care, consult a health care provider, or be tested for COVID-19.
Yesterday, Ontario released updated modelling for the second wave of the COVID-19
pandemic, demonstrating a steady growth in the number of cases in the province throughout the month of September.
Key findings from the new modelling include:
Cases are doubling approximately every 10 to 12 days.
While initial second wave cases were primarily within the 20-39 age group, case numbers are now growing across all age groups.
Forecasting suggests that Ontario could see around 1,000 new cases per day in early October.
Intensive Care Unit (ICU) occupancy is currently steady, but admissions are predicted to rise with an increase in COVID-19 patients being hospitalized.
If cases continue to grow, Ontario may see between 200 and 300 COVID-19 patients in ICU beds per
day.
With greater than 150 COVID-19 patients in ICU, it becomes increasingly difficult to support non-COVID care needs. Supporting non-COVID care becomes impossible with 350 COVID-19 patients in ICU.
The number of COVID-19 patients in ICU will have a direct impact on Ontario’s ability to continue to perform surgeries and other backlogged procedures throughout the second wave.
Modelling released yesteday does not yet demonstrate the effects of actions taken by Ontario on September 19th and 25th regarding gathering sizes and tightened restrictions for food and drink establishments. Ontario public health experts will continue to closely monitor the spread of COVID-19, and will advise if and when public health restrictions require further adjustment. For more information, we encourage you to visit the Ministry of Health and Public Health Ontario website.
Key Federal Updates
Today, the government announced $10 billion in new major infrastructure initiatives to create jobs and economic growth. The Canada Infrastructure Bank’s (CIB) Growth Plan will help Canadians get back to work and is expected to create approximately 60,000 jobs across the country. The
three-year plan will connect more households and small businesses to high-speed Internet, strengthen Canadian agriculture, and help build a low-carbon economy.
The plan includes:
$2.5 billion for clean power to support renewable generation and storage and to transmit clean electricity between provinces, territories and regions, including northern and Indigenous communities.
$2 billion to help connect about 750,000 homes and small businesses to broadband in under-served communities.
$2 billion for
large-scale energy efficient building retrofits.
$1.5 billion for agriculture irrigation projects to boost production, strengthen Canada's food security and expand export opportunities.
$1.5 billion to speed up the adoption of zero-emission buses and charging infrastructure.
For more information, we encourage you to visit the Government of Canada website.
Daily Reports
As of 10:30AM today, Ontario reported 52,248 confirmed cases (increase of 538), 44,422 resolved cases, 2,851 deaths and 82,473 currently under investigation with lab results pending.
The Ministry is also reporting that 162 patients are hospitalized with COVID-19, 36 are in ICU and 17 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
