Share
Preview
Important updates on Ontario's response to COVID-19
 ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌
 
 
Member Update:
COVID-19 Situation- April 13th
Dear ,

We hope you got to enjoy some virtual quality time with friends and loved one over the weekend. This week, we continue to voice the need for increased access to PPE for nurses and other health professionals.

Today, we were pleased to see the government announce that over the last five days, more than 13 million surgical and procedural masks, 200,000 N95 respirator masks, and 38 ventilators have arrived in Ontario. We will continue to advocate for this PPE to be distributed quickly to areas that need them most, including long term care, retirement homes and in the community.  

We are also  continuing to share new resources prepared for nurses by nurses to support your self care during this time. Check out our latest webinar on Physical Well-Being and Exercise

Facebook Live- Tuesday April 14
We look forward to engaging with members and answering your questions during our Facebook Live session, tomorrow evening at 8pm. Tune in at https://www.facebook.com/wearepracticalnurses

Follow Up: Advice for Caring for Patients or Residents with Dementia during COVID-19
During last week's Facebook Live session, we received a number of questions related to caring for patients with dementia while in insolation. RPNs are clearly concerned about the wellbeing of their residents during a difficult time. We posed your question Dr. Samir Sinha, a renowned gerontologist and advocate for the elderly who has significant appreciation for the work of Ontario’s RPNs.  He refered us to his colleague, Dr. Natasha Lane who shared that while she was unaware of a COVID-19 specific plan of care for those with dementia, or those who wander, her advice was to engage in strategies that you might use in non-COVID-19 times such as distraction, music therapy, disguising doors and antipsychotics/other sedatives based on physician discretion. She also shared this article to support your practice.

Urgent Jobs During COVID-19
There are several new job postings on our COVID-19 Staff Needed section.

The Provincial Government is helping recruit health care workers through their new portal and match them with opportunities. Health Force Ontario continues to recruit health professionals.

We encourage RPNs looking for employment opportunities to sign up on all the platforms noted above.

Key Provincial Updates and Resources for Health Professionals
This weekend we saw several announcements from Queen's Park.

Ontario has extended Emergency Orders until April 23rd and tomorrow intends to extend this order for an additional 28 days.

Following pressure from WeRPN and other health stakeholders, the Ministry has updated Directive #5. The revised Directive outlines required precautions and procedures for regulated health professionals, including RPNs, and specified employees working in public hospitals and in long-term care homes dealing with suspected, presumed, or confirmed COVID-19 patients or residents.

Ontario announced the next phase of its testing strategy aimed at enhancing the number of people tested across the province. In addition to testing the public at assessment centres, the government will be proactively testing several groups including:
  • Hospital inpatients;
  • Residents of long-term care and retirement homes;
  • Health care workers, caregivers, care providers, paramedics, and first responders, including police and firefighters;
  • Remote, isolated, rural and Indigenous communities;
  • Other congregate living centres, including homeless shelters, prisons and group homes;
  • Specific vulnerable populations, including patients undergoing chemotherapy or hemodialysis and requiring transplants, as well as pregnant persons, newborns and cross-border workers; and
  • Other essential workers, as defined by provincial orders.

The Ministry has updated the guidance document for Consumption and Treatment Services sites

The Government also announced the development of a new health data platform called the Pandemic Threat Response (PANTHR). This new platform will hold secure health data that will allow researchers to better support health system planning and responsiveness, including the immediate need to analyze the current COVID-19 outbreak.

Premier Ford also announced that over 14,000 submissions from business and private citizens have been received through the Ontario Together portal to date. More than 7,500 emergency supply submissions have generated nearly $90 million in purchases of critical equipment and supplies including gloves, masks, face shields and hand sanitizer.

The Government also announced some financial relief for parents, by taking steps to prevent child care providers will not be able to collect payments while child care centres are closed.

The Command Table met on Friday and has provided a meeting summary of their discussions.

For more information, we encourage you to visit the
Ministry of Health and Public Health Ontario website

Key Federal Updates
Bill C-14 was approved by parliament late Saturday night and will allow Ottawa to pay companies 75 per cent of the first $58,700 earned by each employee, up to $847 per week for up to 12 weeks. Employment Minister Carla Qualthrough said it could be two to four weeks before money is delivered from the $73 billion wage subsidy program.

    Canada's Chief Medical Officer of Health has released Infection Prevention and Control for COVID-19: Interim Guidance for Long Term Care Homes

    The Government also said it would be working closely with provinces to boost protection for Long Term Care residents

    For more information, we encourage you to visit the
    Government of Canada website.

    Daily Reports
    As of 10:30AM today, Ontario reported 7,470 confirmed cases, 3,357 resolved cases, 291 deaths and 1,208 currently under investigation with lab results pending.

    The Ministry is now also reporting that 760 patients are hospitalized with COVID-19, 263 are in ICU and 203 are vented. To view these additional details: click here


    Click Here
    to read the latest Ministry of Health Daily Report
    **Please note, these reports are intended for health professionals only and we request that you not share this with the public.

    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

    905.602.4664
    info@werpn.com


    Email Marketing by ActiveCampaign