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Important updates on Ontario's response to COVID-19
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Member Update:
COVID-19 Situation- April 29th
Dear ,

Thanks to all the RPNs who participated in our Facebook Live this week. If you missed it, you can watch it here. We received some questions about the recent CNO update regarding changes to nurses scope of practice in hospitals as a result of a recent emergency order. We discussed this during the facebook live and will be sharing more information shortly.

LTC RPNs Needed to Research on Resilience
WeRPN and Western University continue to recruit volunteers to take part in a research study to describe the process of how RPNs build and sustain personal and professional resiliency during a crisis such as COVID-19. We are hoping to hear from 1000 RPNs!!

RPNs who meet all the following criteria are invited to participate:
  • Have worked and/or are currently working as a registered practical nurse in a licensed long-term care home in Ontario anytime between January 1, 2020 to present. Note: Does not include rest/retirement homes, hospice, group home or any other congregate setting

If you are interested and agree to participate you would be asked to: complete a 30 minute online survey that includes demographic questions and questions about stress and resilience during COVID-19.

You will also be given the opportunity to volunteer for an optional virtual follow-up interview with a research team member. If you choose to participate in the interview, you will be compensated for your time.
Learn more and take the survey

Upcoming events:
May 3rd - 10AM- CNO Webinar: Changes to Medical Assistance in Dying law
The federal government recently passed Bill C-7 to amend the Criminal Code. This Bill introduced changes that have expanded the eligibility for Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID). This webinar will cover how they changes affect NPs who provide MAID and the the role of RNs and RPNs who support patients in the MAID process. Register Here

Key Provincial Updates and Resources for Health Professionals

Today, in response to an expected increase in vaccine supply from the federal government, the Ontario government is preparing to ramp up its rollout of COVID-19 vaccines to further support at-risk communities. This includes a targeted commitment to allocate 50 per cent of upcoming vaccine shipments to hot spot communities as identified by postal code, to help decrease COVID-19 transmission and hospitalizations. Approximately 800,000 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine are expected to arrive in Ontario per week at the start of May, ramping up to 940,000 doses per week by the end of May. The government expect all Ontarian over 18 will be eligible to get their first shot by the end of May.

Yesterday, the government introduced measures for paid COVID-19 leave. The government has introduced legislation that would, if passed, require employers to provide employees with up to $200 of pay for up to three days if they are missing work because of COVID-19. This program will be retroactive to April 19, 2021, and effective until September 25, 2021, the date the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) will expire. This comes after intense public pressure to introduce these measures to protect workers.

The government announced the launch of new 9-1-1 models of care to cover 33 municipalities across the province. These new models of care will ensure paramedics have more options to provide safe and appropriate treatment for patients while helping to protect hospital capacity as the province continues to respond to the third wave of COVID-19.

This week, the Government of Canada responded to Ontario’s request for assistance to support the ongoing fight against COVID-19. As such, the Government of Canada is prepared to deploy federal health human resources through the Canadian Armed Forces and fund the redeployment of the Canadian Red Cross to augment or relieve staff within medical care facilities. In addition, the Canadian Armed Forces will be providing airlift of medical personnel from Newfoundland and Labrador and possibly other jurisdictions.

Over the weekend,
the government announced changes to emergency orders that will now allow health care workers, including RPNs, who are fully vaccinated to work in more than one long-term care facility or retirement home.

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 459,477 confirmed cases (increase of 3,871), 413,010 resolved cases, 8,029 deaths.

The Ministry was also reporting that 2,248 patients are hospitalized with COVID-19, 884 are in ICU and 620 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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