Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Online Bulletin for Health Care Providers

March 7, 2024

From:
Dr. Ethan Toumishey
Medical Officer of Health and CEO
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health

In this Issue:

1. Updated measles resource
2. Updated: Enhanced masking recommendations for retirement homes
3. Infant and early mental health survey

News & Updates

Updated measles resource

Public Health Ontario (PHO) has released an updated resource, Measles: Information for Health Care Providers.

This resource, which is particularly relevant given the rise of measles cases globally, outlines considerations and information to assist with timely identification and management of individuals suspected to have measles.

It provides important information on immunization, laboratory testing and infection prevention and control practices and is intended for use by health care providers and public health units. It also reinforces the importance of maintaining up-to-date immunizations for measles, including considerations relating to travel.

For more information, visit the PHO website.

Update: Enhanced masking recommendation for retirement homes

The Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility (MSAA) has issued an update on the temporary enhanced masking recommendations in retirement homes which were communicated through a memo on Nov. 2, 2023.

Effective immediately, MSAA is ending the enhanced masking recommendations for retirement homes when the retirement home is not in outbreak. More specifically, MSAA is no longer recommending enhanced masking for retirement home staff, students, volunteers, and Essential Visitors who are health care workers when in resident areas indoors.

However, retirement homes must continue to follow the masking requirements found in the MSAA COVID-19 Guidance for Retirement Homes in Ontario which are as follows:

• Masks are required for staff, students, volunteers, and Essential Visitors who are health care workers, including Home and Community Care Support Services (HCCSS) workers, based on a point-of-care risk assessment (i.e., for determining if masking is needed before every resident interaction based on risk to the worker).
• Staff may consider wearing a mask while providing 1:1 care within two metres of an individual for 15 minutes or longer.
• Masks are recommended but not required for visitors who are not health care workers (e.g., families, friends, and caregivers who are not health care workers).

Infant and Early Mental Health Promotion survey

If you are a physician or a nurse in Canada who sees families with children less than three years old in your practice, please consider participating in a five-minute, anonymous, bilingual survey.

This survey was developed by Infant and Early Mental Health Promotion at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). The main objective of this survey is to inform the development of resources for you and your colleagues which may:

• Better support infant and early mental health in their practice, thus increasing children’s chances of lifelong optimal outcomes;
• Recognize when a young child may be at risk for less-than-optimal early mental health outcomes;
• Provide interventions or referrals to interventions that respond to any risk an infant, toddler or preschooler may show for poor mental health outcomes.

We encourage you to:

• click the survey link to learn more;
• fill the survey if you are eligible;
• forward this message to all relevant practitioners in your network.

If you have any concerns or anticipate/experience any issues with the survey, please contact the study coordinator at magali.bouhours@sickkids.ca.

Back to Summary

Contact Information: 

To report communicable diseases:613-966-5500 x349

To report AEFI or DOPHS: Online / Fax: 613-966-1813 or CDCFAX1@hpeph.ca

Hastings Prince Edward Public Health is situated and provides services on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, Huron-Wendat and Haudenosaunee people.

You have received this email at from Hastings Prince Edward Public Health as a result of a request you have made or due to a service/subscription that you are registered for. While you may discontinue your subscription to this mailing at any time by pressing the unsubscribe button below, please note that this bulletin will be used to provide important updates about infectious and communicable disease.