COVID-19 Outbreak Prevention and Preparedness
Emerging information suggests that older adults with underlying medical conditions are at increased risk of severe outcomes during this COVID-19 pandemic. Active surveillance, early identification and rapid implementation of outbreak control measures are essential to protecting this vulnerable population and preventing the spread of COVID-19 within long-term care and retirement homes.
Refer to Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 Screening Checklist
Active screening of all staff and essential visitors: Screen for symptoms, including temperature checks, twice daily (beginning and end of day)
- Any staff with symptoms of COVID-19 must go home immediately, self-isolate and call Public Health to arrange for testing
- Essential visitors who do not pass the active screening are not permitted to enter the facility (essential visitors include a person visiting a very ill or palliative resident or a person performing essential support services e.g. food delivery, maintenance and other health care)
- Limit the calls to first responders for emergencies only – if at all possible, manage non-life-threatening incidents (e.g. lifting patients) using resources within the home - active screening of emergency responders during an emergency call is not required
- Refuse entry to any person who has been in another home experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak
- Essential visitors permitted into the home must wear a mask
Active screening of all residents twice daily (beginning and end of day)
- Residents being readmitted must be screened for symptoms and exposure to COVID-19
- New residents and residents requiring repatriation from an outbreak facility into the home is generally not permitted. Admission/re-admission may be approved 14 days post exposure and in consultation with Public Health.
- New residents without known COVID-19 exposure, must be placed in isolation for 14 days upon arrival
- Short-stay absences are not permitted
- Any residents with fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other mild respiratory symptoms consistent with acute respiratory illness (ARI) must be isolated and swabbed for COVID-19 by facility staff
- Implement droplet and contact precautions immediately and use dedicated equipment
- Work in collaboration with Public Health to identify and manage symptomatic residents and to follow up with contacts (residents and staff)
Additional measures
- Residents must remain on the home’s property.
- Ensure sufficient PPE is available and accessible to those who may require it.
- Ensure all staff are aware of appropriate PPE for droplet and contact precautions, including donning/doffing techniques. Follow the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 Directive #1.
- Increase environmental cleaning. Resident rooms cleaned daily and high touch surfaces twice daily.
- Modify internal activities to ensure physical distancing measures are followed by residents and staff.
- Review staffing schedules, staff emergency contacts, and discourage staff working at multiple facilities.
- Be prepared to cohort staff and residents, designate staff to work with either ill or well residents.
- Review communication protocols, and advanced directives for all residents.
Specimen Collection and Testing for Outbreak Management
- There should be a low threshold to test residents and health care workers within the home.
- Every symptomatic resident and staff should be tested.
- Facility staff will collect NP specimens on ill residents, following appropriate precautions
- Refer symptomatic staff to Public Health for risk assessment and to arrange for testing
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