Today, on the anniversary of the pandemic, we are joining with health care partners in honouring and remembering those who have lost their lives over the past year. You can share your tributes on social media using the hashtags #Candle4COVID and #TogetherWeCanDoIt.
WeRPN is pleased to conclude the winter edition of our Career Directors webinar series. This week, join us for our final Module Six -- Sustaining(Available until March 22). Click hereto register and watch on demand
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
Today, the government released updated modelling. Highlights include:
Vaccination in long-term care has paid off.
Progress otherwise has stalled. Declines in community cases and test positivity have levelled off. Cases are increasing in most Public Health Units as we see mobility rise.
Variants of concern continue to spread across Ontario. Our ability to control the rate of spread will determine whether we return to normal or face a third wave of infection. We know what works: continued masking and distancing are essential to controlling variants of concern.
Our behaviour over the next few weeks is critical in determining the quality of our summer.
High volumes of postponed care and missed screening and preventative care mean that there will be a substantial and prolonged surge in need for care across sectors. Our
actions now affect our ability to access care later.
Controlling cases, increasing vaccinations where they will have the greatest impact, and accelerating vaccinations overall are how we beat the pandemic.
Yesterday afternoon, Premier Ford and General Hillier provided an update on the province’s ongoing efforts to roll out the COVID-19 vaccine. Key points include:
By the end of yesterday, March 10, Ontario is expected to have administered its one-millionth dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
The province expects to administer another one million doses in the next three weeks, for a total of two million doses administered by the end of March.
More than 120 new mass immunization clinics will be open by the end of March, with the capacity to administer up to 150,000 doses per day, contingent on vaccine supply.
Next Monday, March 15, the province’s customer service desk and online booking systems will launch. These supports will help answer questions and book appointments at mass immunization clinics, starting with those over the age of 80.
Pharmacies and Primary Care Settings to Begins Administering Vaccines
As vaccine supply increases, Ontario is also expanding the delivery channels available to administer COVID-19 vaccines to include pharmacies and primary care settings.
As of Friday, March 12, over 325 pharmacies will be offering the AstraZeneca vaccine to eligible Ontarians aged 60-64. This is part of a pilot program that will be initially offered in the public health units (PHUs) of Toronto, Windsor-Essex, and Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington. Vaccines will be offered by appointment only. Those eligible and interested in booking appointments can visit Ontario.ca/pharmacycovidvaccine for a list of participating pharmacies.
Ontario is also working with primary care professionals to offer the AstraZeneca vaccine in primary care settings and community locations, such as physician offices, in collaboration with PHUs. This initiative will begin as of Saturday, March 13 in Hamilton, Toronto, Guelph, Peterborough, Simcoe-Muskoka, and Peel. Primary care providers will be contacting eligible Ontarians aged 60-64 directly to book an appointment.
The Ontario government is preparing to move into Phase Two of its COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan next month, with a focus on vaccinating populations based on age and risk.
The statement from the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada on March 11 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 313,520 confirmed cases (increase of 1,092),
295,128 resolved cases, 7,109 deaths.
The Ministry is also reporting that 680 patients are hospitalized with COVID-19, 277 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
