Don't forget to join us this evening for our final Facebook Live of 2020. Tune in at 8pm as we provide updates on some of the latest nursing news from the past couple weeks:
Key Provincial Updates and Resources for Health Professionals
Today, Premier Doug Ford, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, Christine Elliott, Solicitor General, Sylvia Jones, and Chair of the COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force, General Rick Hillier (retired), provided an update on the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines in Ontario. The Ottawa Hospital began administering vaccines today, following Canada’s first COVID-19 vaccine yesterday at University Health Network (UHN) in Toronto. According to General Hillier, the province expects to receive 90,000 additional doses of the Pfizer vaccine in the next two to three weeks, which will be expanded to
17 additional sites across Ontario.
Yesterday, Premier Doug Ford issued a statement after the first COVID-19 vaccine in Canada was administered in Ontario to a long-term care personal support worker. As a result of the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines in Ontario, the province has now officially entered the first
phase of its three-phase COVID-19 vaccine implementation plan. To support the Vaccine implemention plan, the government has released a series of informational resources and guidance for health care providers:
Earlier today, the government announced the allocation of an additional $120 million to help municipalities and Indigenous community partners protect the health and safety of vulnerable people during COVID-19. Funding will be delivered through the Social Services Relief Fund and will be used to respond to local housing pressures.
Last week, Ontario announced the movement of several public health regions to higher levels of the COVID-19 response framework with stricter public health measures. As a result of this announcement, York Region and Windsor-Essex were moved into lockdown as of Monday, December 14th at 12:01 a.m.
Today, the government announced that following successful negotiations and contingent on Health Canada authorization of the vaccine, Canada will be able to access 168,000 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in December 2020.
On Friday, Prime Minister Trudeau
announced Canada’s strengthened climate plan, A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy, which will help achieve our economic and environmental goals. The proposed plan, supported by an initial $15 billion in investments, will make life more affordable for Canadians, make communities more livable, and, at every turn, focus on creating jobs, growing the middle class, and supporting workers in a stronger and cleaner economy.
For more information, we encourage you to visit the Government of Canada website.
Daily Reports
As of 10:30AM today, Ontario reported 144,396 confirmed cases (increase of 2,275), 123,373 resolved cases, 3,992 deaths and 45,770 currently under investigation with lab results pending.
The Ministry is also reporting that 921 patients are hospitalized with COVID-19, 249 are in ICU and 156 are vented. To view these additional details:click here
Click Hereto read the latest Ministry of Health Daily Report
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
