Please note that our bi-weekly newsletter is being wound down for the holiday season. Today will be the last newsletter for 2020 and we will resume our updates on Tuesday January 5, 2021.
We are pleased to share that WeRPN has been invited to actively engage with the Governent's Vaccine Taskforce. We will be receiving regular updates on the vaccine implementation and look forward to sharing those with our members as more information becomes available. You can access the latest information here.
Following the government's announcement of a provincial lockdown, WeRPN has released a statement encouraging Ontarians to adhere to public health guidelines
this holiday season. Read our statement
WeRPN Leadership Series- Registration Now Open On January 18th, we will be kicking off the winter semester of our online leadership courses. We hope you will join us for one of our interactive 8-week online learning experiences, including:
Click here for further details and to register. If you have any questions about the courses, please email Sharon Foster at sfoster@werpn.com
Survey of RPNs in LTC Are you an RPN working in a longterm care setting who has worked directly with patients experiencing COVID19 infection? Our colleagues at the Univeristy of Toronto Faculty of Nursing want to hear about your experience and perspectives on reducing distress for nurses working on the front-lines! If you are interested in participating in a 45 minute virtual interview, please contact the research team via email at: covidnursingethics@gmail.com.
To compensate
for time spent being interviewed, you will receive a $30 gift card.
Key Provincial Updates and Resources for Health Professionals
Today, the government announced it is providing new financial supports for individuals, families and small businesses,
as they do their part to stop the spread of COVID-19 and protect the province's health care system during the Provincewide Shutdown. The province is expanding the Support for Learners program to include secondary school students and lowering electricity prices to a discounted off-peak rate 24/7 for all time-of-use and tiered customers.
Yesterday, the government announced further intervention to address rising COVID-19 case numbers, and subsequent hospitalizations, in the province.
Escalating case counts have led to increasing hospitalization rates and capacity challenges in many large urban hospitals, which has resulted in disruptions to scheduled surgeries and procedures. Current COVID-19 case trends, as described in the modelling numbers introduced yesterday, could soon overwhelm the health care system.
To that end, the government has decided to initiate a province-wide lockdown beginning at 12:01am on December 26, 2020
Two weeks (14 days) for the entire province – Until Saturday, January 9, 2021
Four weeks (28
days) for Southern Ontario. – Until Saturday, January 23, 2021
There will be no indoor organized events or social gatherings permitted outside of those residing in households. At the end of the lockdown period the government intends to return to the previous COVID-19 response framework. The Chief Medical Officer will then make an assessment to determine future measures.
To support businesses through this time, the government will launch an application-based program called the Ontario Small Business Support Grant commencing
in January 2021. For every small business (100 employees or fewer at the enterprise level) that expects to see a revenue decline of at least 20%. This will be a financial support program ranging from a minimum of $10,000 to a maximum of $20,000.
Last week, the Government announced details about the additional $100 million in funding that is being provided to these organizations under the Emergency Food Security Fund.
For more information, we encourage you to visit the Government of Canada website.
Daily
Reports
As of 10:30AM today, Ontario reported 160,255 confirmed cases (increase of 2,202), 136,767 resolved cases, 4,188 deaths and 45,770 currently under investigation with lab results pending.
The Ministry is also reporting that 1,005 patients are hospitalized with COVID-19, 273 are in ICU and 172 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