Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Health Professionals

 This information may change frequently, please check back often for updates.

• Case Definition - Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) | Ministry of Health as of August 6, 2020. [PDF]
• COVID-19 Reference Document for Symptoms | August 6, 2020 (Version 6.0)

• Directive #1 for Health Care Providers and Health Care Entities | March 30, 2020
• Directive #2 for Health Care Providers (Regulated Health Professionals or Persons who operate a Group Practice of Regulated Health Professionals) | May 26, 2020
• Directive #3 for Long-Term Care Homes | June 15, 2020
• Directive #4 for Ambulance Services and Paramedics | March 30, 2020
• Directive #5: PPE in Hospitals - Revised | April 10, 2020

For the most updated guidance documents, refer to Ministry of Health: Guidance for the Healthcare Sector

Guidance documents and signage have been produced for numerous health sectors related to COVID-19, including:

• Guidance for Primary Care Providers in a Community Setting
• Guidance for Home and Community Care Providers
• Guidance for Group Homes
• Guidance for Homeless Shelters
• Guidance for Long-Term Care
  • COVID-19 Screening Checklist
• Guidance for Paramedic Services
• Guidance for Independent Health Facilities
• Guidance for Laboratories
• Guidance for Pharmacies
• Guidance for Occupational Health and Safety
• Talking to Children About the Pandemic
• Resources for Ontarians Experiencing Mental Health and Addictions Issues During the Pandemic
• Guidance for Funeral and Bereavement Services

Public Health Ontario - Management of Cases and Contacts of COVID-19 in Ontario | June 23, 2020 (Version 8.0)

Public Health Ontario - Infection Prevention and Control Fundamentals, Training Resources | April 23, 2020

Guidance for Acute Care - Ministry of Health | June 15, 2020 (Version 6.0)

Guidance: Resuming Visits in LTCH - Ministry of Health | July 15, 2020

Guidance: Reopening Retirement Homes - Ministry of Health | July 22, 2020

Guidance: Resuming Visits in Congregate Living Settings - Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services | June 15, 2020

Update to Visits at Long-Term Care Homes - Ministry of Long-Term Care | July 15, 2020

COVID-19: Visiting long-term care homes | October 5, 2020

Retirement Home COVID-19 Visiting Policy | October 5, 2020

FAQs COVID-19 Visiting Policy | Effective Sept. 9, 2020

Q&A for Long-Term Care Home Staff | Sept. 8, 2020

Directive #3 for Long-Term Care Homes | October 14, 2020

Directive #5 - For Hospitals within the meaning of the Public Hospitals Act and Long-Term Care Homes within the meaning of the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007 | April 10, 2020

COVID-19 Outbreak Guidance | April 15, 2020

IPAC Recommendations for Use of PPE | April 8, 2020

Ministry of Health - Guidance for LTCH | April 16, 2020

Ministry of Health - Guidance for Mask Use in LTC & RH | April 16, 2020

Screening Tool for LTCH and RH | April 24, 2020

COVID-19 Outbreak Package for LTCH:

• Outbreak Control Measures
• Respiratory Outbreak Line List
• Quick Reference for COVID-19 Supports

If you are in need of PPE:

• Work with your regular supplier to determine when you will get regular shipments of PPE and equipment.  Attached is a list of suppliers to further assist you. 
• Any non-hospital health provider within Huron and Perth region, who is in urgent need of PPE can submit their request to HPHA through this form
  • If HPHA can fulfill the request, they will get the PPE coordinated; it may mean that you’ll need to drive to an HPHA hospital site to pick up the supplies, but we’ll work with you.
  • If HPHA cannot fulfill the request, that request goes up the chain to our regional virtual warehouse (via the London procurement team called HMMS) to help out.  If London can’t fulfill the request, it’s escalated to the Ministry’s Emergency Operations Centre (MEOC). 

Resources on PPE use:

• Directive #5: PPE in Hospitals - Revised | April 10, 2020
• Personal Protective Equipment Use during COVID-19 Pandemic (Ministry of Health) | May 10, 2020
• Minister Order: Requirement to Provide Information Respecting Supplies of PPE | March 28, 2020
• Ministry of Health Memo: PPE Update | March 28, 2020
• Ministry of Health: Optimizing PPE - COVID-19 | May 10, 2020. 
• Public Health Ontario training videos. Videos include:
• How to hand rub
• Putting on full PPE
• Taking off full PPE

Testing guidance and resources:

• Refer to COVID-19 Testing and Guidelines for Erie St. Clair and South West region for current testing guidelines and recommendations for Huron Perth.
• For information on the COVID-19 lab requisition, specimen collection and handling and turnaround time, visit Public Health Ontario.
• COVID-19 Provincial Testing Guidance Update - Ministry of Health | August 14, 2020
• Quick Reference Public Health Guidance on Testing and Clearance | July 29, 2020 (Version 9.0)

Ministry of Heath: COVID-19 Guidance: Labour, Delivery, and Newborn Care | May 19, 2020

The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada issued a committee opinion regarding COVID-19 during pregnancy. 

Huron Perth Public Health is hosting weekly teleconferences with stakeholders, including primary care, hospitals, EMS partners, municipalities, and long-term care, as well as sending out regular updates. 

To be added to our stakeholder contact list, please email Communications with your name and email address and identify your organization.