COVID-19 Staff Surveillance Testing for Long-Term Care Homes
Dear Long-Term Care Home Director of Care:
Presently the local rate of transmission of COVID-19 is low. The last positive case was identified on May 18. As the province begins to open up and more people move around and through our region, continued vigilance for active symptom screening and testing remains critical to containing the COVID-19 outbreak.
In order to further support the identification and management of any asymptomatic COVID-19 cases, to help protect our vulnerable Long-Term Care Home (LTCH) residents, Ontario Health has announced continued surveillance testing for all LTCH staff, with an interval of every two weeks.
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (HPEPH) is supporting this initiative by providing a COVID-19 Staff Surveillance Test Tracking form in 2 file formats (click on the links here (Excel and Word). Also posted on our website at https://hpepublichealth.ca/covid-19-hcp/ (COVID-19 Resources for Health Care Providers). Use of the form is optional, however all organizations are asked to maintain records so that they can be shared with Ontario Health and/or Public Health if/when requested.
To support COVID-19 staff surveillance testing, lab tests can be ordered under the LTCH’s medical director, which will allow results to be returned to the facility for tracking purposes. Please see linked example of a completed COVID-19 lab requisition, and posted on our website at https://hpepublichealth.ca/covid-19-hcp/.
To obtain swabs for staff testing, submit your request to cdcfax1@hpeph.ca or call HPEPH’s Communicable Disease Intake Line at 613-966-5500 ext.349.
Facilities can arrange direct delivery of specimens to Public Health Lab in Kingston, 181 Barrie Street, or alternatively, specimens can be dropped off at one of the following locations to be included in HPEPH’s daily courier to Kingston Public Health Lab:
| Belleville | HPEPH 179 North Park Street | Monday - Friday 830 am - 430 pm Saturday, Sunday 12 noon to 130 pm Bring to small pass-door at rear of bldg. to the left of the loading bay (look for sign on the pass-door) |
| Picton | Prince Edward County CAC 375 Main Street | 7 days/week, 9am - 2 pm |
| Bancroft | Quinte Health Care North Hastings Site 1H Manor Lane | 7 days/week, 9am - 4pm |
If on-site testing of staff is not possible, it is recommended that a coordinated site-specific approach to testing be established in consultation with your regional contact at Ontario Health, Jocelyn Pang (Jocelyn.pang@renalnetwork.on.ca).
For facilities that require support for staff testing, the following community testing sites and contact information is listed for your convenience:
- Bancroft COVID-19 Assessment Centre (CAC): 613-332-2825 ext.2222
- Belleville & Quinte West CAC: 613-961-5544
- Prince Edward County CAC: 613-813-6864
- Hastings-Quinte Paramedic Services: 613-771-9366 (ask for Danielle Spitzig) or email spitzigd@hastingscounty.com
If staff results are not received directly at the facility (this will only happen for LTCHs who have a medical director who orders the test), staff should be directed to look up their test results at covid-19.ontario.ca and report them to their employer for tracking purposes. If staff are unable to access their own results on-line, they should follow the direction provided by the CAC or community provider that tested them. Any individual who tests positive will be contacted directly by public health to complete full case and contact management.
Reminder: Staff should continue to always self-monitor for symptoms. If any symptoms develop, staff should isolate themselves and report to their employer, regardless of surveillance testing results.
In the event of a positive test result among a staff member, public health will consult with the facility to initiate COVID-19 outbreak management procedures.
If you have questions about staff surveillance testing logistics, please email the Ontario Health COVID-19 Testing Implementation Team at covid19testing@ontariohealth.ca.
If you have any questions about ordering swabs or in relation to COVID-19 LTCH outbreak, case and contact management, please call HPEPH’s Communicable Disease Intake Line at 613-966-5500 ext.349.
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