This Thursday, on the anniversary of the pandemic, WeRPN will join 19 other health organizations in honouring and remembering those who have lost their lives from #COVID19. We are
asking nurses and the public take part by lighting a candle & sharing tributes on social media with the hashtags #Candle4COVID & #TogetherWeCanDoIt.
Last Friday, WeRPN joined a coalition of health professionals in urging the government to make small business grants available to health professionals, including RPNs who own independent businesses. Read the letter
Seeking RPNs for Research Project Are you an RPN or RN working in a hospital setting who has worked directly with ALC patients? Fellow WeRPN Member, Jen Calver, wants to hear from you for a research project titled, ‘Nurses’ Perspectives on the Policy Objective to End Hallway Health Care in Ontario to Address Alternate Level of Care in Hospitals’. Read the letter of invitation and review the recruitment flyer.
Key Provincial Updates and Resources for Health Professionals
Yesterday, the Ontario government announced the completion of the first round of COVID-19 vaccinations in 31 northern remote Indigenous communities through Operation Remote Immunity.
Yesterday afternoon, Dr. Williams and Dr. Yaffe provided an update on
COVID-19 trends in Ontario. Key points include:
The seven-day average case count is 1,155, which is up from 1,099 last week.
There are 626 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, which is down from 659 last week.
This week’s average percent positivity of 2.6% is unchanged from last week.
There are 935 confirmed variant cases in Ontario, 879 of which are the B.1.1.7 variant (first detected in the U.K.).
During the update, Dr. Williams acknowledged that case counts have been trending slightly upwards in recent days and encouraged Ontarians to remain vigilant and continue to adhere to public health measures.
Friday, following Health Canada’s approval of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, and Chair of Ontario’s COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force, General Rick Hillier (retired) provided an update on the province’s vaccination plan.
Ontario Transitions to Phase 2, Accelerates Vaccination Timelines
In light of the recent approval of two additional vaccines, as well as this week’s recommendation from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) that the interval between first and second doses may be extended
to four months, Ontario is following other provinces by accelerating its vaccination timelines. Premier Ford called this week’s NACI announcement a “game changer,” and General Hillier noted that the province is currently transitioning to Phase 2 of its vaccination plan.
General Hillier also noted that the province’s new aim, dependant on supply, is to administer a first dose to every eligible person in Ontario who wants a vaccine by the first day of summer, June 20th. According to the province’s polling data, up to 90 per cent of eligible Ontarians want to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
Phase 2 will focus on vaccinating populations based on age and risk, Including:
Adults between 60-79 years of age;
Individuals with specific health conditions and some primary caregivers;
People who live and work in
congregate settings and some primary caregivers;
People who live in hot spots with high rates of death, hospitalizations, and transmission, and;
Certain workers who cannot work from home.
Further details on Phase 2 priority populations can
be found here.
The following guidance documents have been updated:
The statement from the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada on March 8 2021 is available here
For more information, we encourage you to visit the Government of Canada website.
Daily Reports
As of 10:30AM today, Ontario reported 311,112 confirmed cases (increase of 1,185),
292,806 resolved cases, 7,083 deaths.
The Ministry is also reporting that 689 patients are hospitalized with COVID-19, 290 are in ICU and 184 are vented. To view
these additional details:click here Click Here to 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 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
