On September 30, 2020, the Ontario government released its complete fall preparedness plan aimed at combating the second wave of COVID-19, entitled Keeping Ontarians Safe: Preparing for Future Waves of COVID-19.
The government identified six primary objectives and set out various plans of action under each. The objectives are:
- maintaining public health measures;
- immunizing against the flu;
- quickly identifying, managing and preventing outbreaks;
- safely reducing health service backlogs;
- preparing for surges in cases;
- recruiting, retaining, training, and supporting support health care workers, families and caregivers.
We have outlined the objectives and some key plans of action below.
1. Maintaining Public Health Measures
The government will expand efforts to test, trace and isolate new cases of COVID-19 by:
- expanding testing locations beyond existing assessment centres to other community settings, such as mobile testing centres and pharmacies;
- providing additional workers for case management and contact tracing; and
- conducting “health behaviour surveillance” to see if Ontarians are following public health measures and to better inform future communication strategies.
2. Immunizing Against the Flu
With months of colder weather approaching, there is significant potential for a rise in both COVID-19 and flu cases. To avoid a possible “twindemic”, the government plans to implement an expansive flu immunization campaign. Areas of focus include:
- ordering 5.1 million doses of the flu vaccine and, if required, additional doses;
- prioritizing distribution of vaccines to settings such as long-term care homes and hospitals; and
- launching a public education campaign to encourage residents to get vaccinated.
3. Quickly Identifying, Managing and Preventing Outbreaks
The government plans to build on its efforts to rapidly identify and contain COVID-19 outbreaks, including by:
- proactively testing staff and residents of long-term care homes;
- meeting urgent staffing needs through a job matching portal specifically for health care workforces;
- stress-testing outbreak response protocols and structures through virtual simulation; and
- providing additional protections to people who cannot self-isolate.
4. Safely Reducing Health Service Backlogs
The government plans to support the health care system as it works to reduce backlogs and improve access to care during the pandemic by:
- providing funding for additional priority surgeries;
- extending diagnostic imaging hours at health care facilities;
- initiating a centralized waitlist and a program to optimize use of operating rooms; and
- shoring up PPE and critical health supplies to health care providers.
5. Preparing for Surges in Cases
Ontario recently recorded the highest single-day increase of COVID-19 cases in the province since the beginning of the pandemic, and new modelling released by health officials shows that the province could see 1,000 new infections per day by mid-October. The province plans to prepare for the surge in cases by:
- increasing the capacity of home and community care service providers by adding 484,000 nursing and therapy visits and 1.4 million personal support worker (“PSW”) hours;
- expanding the use of virtual care in hospitals and home and community care;
- developing surge response protocols and surge capacity in home and community care;
- investing $405 million to help long-term care homes with operating pressures, including staffing and operating costs, infection prevention, and training for new and existing workers; and
- preparing schools and childcare centres for potential surges.
6. Recruiting, Retaining, Training and Supporting Health Care Workers, Families, and Caregivers
The government plans to increase and stabilize the health care workforce by:
- building a contingency health care
workforce, including by:
- adding 2,000 PSWs and over 800 nurses to the health system;
- investing in training for 160 supportive care workers;
- funding PSW training for 220 students;
- extending the High Wage Transition Fund;
- extending related emergency orders in the Reopening Ontario Act, 2020;
- designating certain caregiving family members as “essential caregivers”; and
- expanding the pool of available nurses in long-term care homes through financial incentives, including full-time salaries and benefits;
- creating stronger Infection Prevention and Control (“IPAC”) supports, including by strengthening inspections and audits of high-risk settings;
- continuing to monitor compliance with occupational health and safety requirements; and
- developing a collaborative engagement model with labour representatives to identify and address health care worker health and safety issues.
Considerations for Employers
The fall preparedness plan will be a boon to employers operating health care facilities and long-term care homes. Many of the plans of action underway will bolster the health care workforce by growing its numbers, investing in training, and enhancing infection prevention measures in the workplace.
Because the plan includes continued monitoring for compliance with occupational health and safety requirements, employers should ensure that they are documenting, widely circulating, and implementing proactive health and safety policies to meet their obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act generally, and specifically in the event of an audit or inspection.
Employers may also feel compelled to take advantage of the flu immunization campaign by suggesting that employees receive flu shots or undergo testing; however, they should refrain from making these procedures a requirement of employment. Subject to limited exceptions, employers generally cannot require workers to undergo medical testing or procedures.
As the plan is implemented, employers would be well advised to stay apprised of changes to applicable public health orders and guidelines. As always, we will monitor the progression of COVID-19 related measures affecting employers and post further updates as they become available to keep you In the Know.
This blog is provided as an information service and summary of workplace legal issues.
This information is not intended as legal advice.