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Important updates on Ontario's response to COVID-19
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Member Update:
COVID-19 Situation- April 8th
Dear ,

Yesterday, WeRPN was extremely saddened to hear the passing of an Ontario Registered Practical Nurse (RPN).

This RPN was a passionate nurse who was dedicated to always going above and beyond to deliver the best care possible. Over the past 13 years, she provided knowledgeable and compassionate care in an acute care setting working across different practice areas as a member of Clinical Resource and Mental Health teams. She was described by colleagues as a bright light who left a lasting impression on all those she worked with. Throughout the pandemic, she was a trusted resource and support to both her colleagues and patients.

This RPN’s untimely death is a tragic loss for Ontario’s nursing community and a terrible reminder of the devastating impacts of COVID-19.
WeRPN would like to express sincere condolences to this nurse's family, friends, co-workers, and patients whose lives she impacted.

Registration Open for Leadership Series:
Registration for our Spring Leadership Series is now open!
The following courses start on April 12th, 2021:
  • Leadership 1: Developing Your Leadership
  • Leadership 2: Influencing Change in Healthcare
  • Leadership 3: Championing Patient Centered Care
  • Leadership 4: Optimizing RPNs to Full Scope

Over 8 weeks, each course helps equip nurses with new skills to support them on their leadership journey. Courses are offered in a flexible online format to meet the needs to nurses' busy schedules. For more information, pricing details and to register, please visit https://www.werpn.com/learn/e-learning/


Upcoming events:
April 14th- 7PM- In Conversation with Practical Nursing Students
WeRPN is hosting a special evening dedicated to students. We will share stories, discuss resources available for students, hear your experiences, and answer your questions. Register here

April 22nd- 1PM- New Graduate Workshop
Are you a recent graduate looking for support as your navigate the nursing workforce. Join us for a special workshop as we provide tips and advice to help you land your first nursing job. Register here

Key Provincial Updates and Resources for Health Professionals
Yesterday, the Ontario government announced it is immediately declaring a third provincial emergency under s 7.0.1 (1) of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act. These measures are being taken in response to the rapid increase in COVID-19 transmission, the threat to the province's hospital system capacity, and the increasing risks posed by COVID-19 variants.

Effective Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 12:01 a.m., the government is issuing a province-wide Stay-at-Home order requiring everyone to remain at home except for essential purposes, such as going to the grocery store or pharmacy, accessing health care services (including getting vaccinated), for outdoor exercise, or for work that cannot be done remotely.

The government has updated the following Directives:

This week, the Toronto District School Board announced all schools in Toronto will be closed to in-person learning from Wednesday, April 7, 2021 to  Sunday, April 18, 2021. This follows yesterday’s announcement from the Peel District School Board that all students will learn remotely from Tuesday, April 6, 2021 to Monday, April 19, 2021.

Earlier this week, the government provided details regarding the commencement of Ontario’s Phase Two vaccine distribution plan.

Phase Two of the vaccine distribution plan is focused on age and at-risk populations. To support the plan, Ontario is increasing vaccine allocations to COVID-19 ‘hot spot’ communities across 13 public health units (PHUs), and areas with high rates of death, hospitalization and transmission. The province will also support regions as they vaccinate individuals aged 50 and in the identified COVID-19 ‘hot spot’ zones. The Ministry of Health is working with PHUs to ensure timely access to vaccines among the identified communities through pharmacies, mass vaccination clinics, and mobile teams.

Starting as early as April 6, 2021, individuals with the following highest-risk health conditions will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccination in Ontario, regardless of age:

  • Organ transplant recipients;
  • Hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients;
  • People with neurological diseases in which respiratory function may be compromised (e.g., motor neuron disease, myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis);
  • Haematological malignancy diagnosed less than one year ago;
  • Kidney disease eGFR< 30; and
  • Essential caregivers for individuals in the groups listed above.

The province is expecting to reach the majority of this group through hospital clinics by the end of April 2021. Patients in the highest-risk clinical groups will be contacted by their health care providers to set up an appointment for a vaccination. The Ministry of Health is working with Ontario Health and other clinical organizations and vaccination partners, to identify and vaccinate these patients and their caregivers.

Other groups that will become eligible to receive vaccines as part of Ontario’s Phase Two immunization program include:

  • Individuals with specific health conditions which make them at high-risk or at-risk, as well as some primary caregivers;
  • People who live and work in congregate settings and some primary caregivers; and
  • Certain workers who cannot work from home (e.g., elementary / secondary school staff, food manufacturing workers, high-risk and critical retail workers, and more).
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For more information, we encourage you to visit the Ministry of Health and Public Health Ontario website.

Daily Reports
As of 10:30AM today, Ontario reported 347,112 confirmed cases (increase of 3,295), 338,559 resolved cases, 7,494 deaths.

Data on hospitalizations is delayed. As of yesterday, the Ministry was also reporting that 1,417 patients are hospitalized with COVID-19, 525 are in ICU and 331 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


Urgent Jobs During COVID-19
RPNs seeking opportunities to support COVID efforts can find postings on the following sites:

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

905.602.4664
info@werpn.com


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