Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Online Bulletin for Health Care Providers

May 4, 2020

From:
Dr. Piotr Oglaza
Medical Officer of Health & CEO
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health

In this Issue:

  1. Local COVID-19 Update
  2. UPDATED Guidance Documents and Resources for Health Care Providers
  3. COVID-19 Testing and Assessment for Community Patients
  4. Reporting of COVID-19
  5. Vaccines, Supplies and STI Medication Orders During COVID-19 Pandemic

Local COVID-19 Update

Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (HPEPH) is working closely with colleagues and community partners to effectively identify and manage cases and contacts of COVID-19 to limit the spread within our community. As of this publication, there are 43 lab confirmed cases, 195 probable cases, and 3 ongoing long-term care outbreaks. Daily COVID-19 updates can be found on our surveillance webpage HPEPH COVID-19 Dashboard.

UPDATED Guidance Documents and Resources for Health Care Providers

COVID-19 Reference Document for Symptoms V.2.0 May 2, 2020

  • Added conjunctivitis to atypical symptom list
  • Added “in absence of underlying reasons for these symptoms such as seasonal allergies, post nasal drip, etc.” to symptoms of runny nose, sneezing or nasal congestion

COVID-19 Patient Screening Guidance Document V.2.0 May 2, 2020

  • Guidelines to help ensure consistency throughout the health and emergency system when dealing with persons suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19
  • Includes regular screening questions for general public and dispatch question for Long-term care (LTCH) and Retirement home (RH)

COVID-19 Provincial Testing Guidance Update V.3.0 May 2, 2020

  • Includes sector specific guidance to help ensure consistent decision-making approach to COVID-19 testing of expanded priority populations across Ontario
  • Several updates to this document including:
    • additional detail for transfer from hospitals to LTCH
    • additional guidance for testing newborns
    • conjunctivitis added to atypical symptom list
    • added consideration for other reasons for patients presenting with ONLY runny nose, sneezing, or congestion, such as seasonal allergies and post nasal drip
    • added detailed testing considerations for Cancer Patients and Hemodialysis Patients

COVID-19 Quick Reference Public Health Guidance for Testing and Clearance V.6.0 May 2, 2020

  • HCW’s can now follow isolation and clearance with non-test based approach
  • Changes to self isolation and return to work guidelines for HCW’s
  • Updated criteria for “clearing cases” with test based, and non-test based approaches for health care workers and those defined as “severely ill”

COVID-19 Testing and Assessment for Community Patients

  • Testing should be considered based on clinical assessment and not on the case definition.
  • Local community-based COVID-19 Assessment Centre (CAC) and Testing options:
    • Bancroft (North Hastings) Assessment Centre
    • Belleville Assessment Centre
    • Paramedic COVID-19 Response (for patients with decreased mobility or lack of transportation)
    • Prince Edward County Assessment Centre
    • Quinte West Assessment Centre
  • Clinicians may refer patients to any of the above CAC’s, or the Paramedic COVID-19 Response Team, using the online Referral for COVID-19 Assessment Form. Send your referral directly to your selected option as per instructions and contact information on the form. Please ensure form is completed in full, with all required information.
  • Current turnaround time for test results from the laboratory is dependant on patient status and capacity, at present this varies from 24 hours to 1 week.

Reporting of COVID-19

  • COVID-19 is a designated disease of public health significance and is thus reportable under the Health Protection and Promotion Act. Regulated health professionals must report all confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 to HPEPH, including any patients being tested for COVID-19.
  • Reports can be made via fax or email using the COVID-19 Primary Care Reporting Form (available in print or electronic version) on our COVID-19 HCP webpage, under Reporting. Please ensure report form is completed in full and all requested information is included.

Vaccines, Supplies and STI Medication Orders During COVID-19 Pandemic

  • Submit orders as per usual procedure using the appropriate Vaccine Order Form and including previous 4 weeks of temperature logs
  • Pick-up times MUST be pre-arranged after submitting order by calling our Vaccine Information Line 613-966-5500 x 222 or by emailing AHanes@hpeph.ca
  • Currently, we require 5 business days for local orders to be processed. Deliveries to Bancroft and Picton Health Unit may take longer than usual during this time due to staff constraints.

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HPEPH has closed our doors to the public; however, we remain dedicated in protecting our community and providing local HCPs and our community with new information as it becomes available. Current information on COVID-19 specifically for health care providers can be found at hpePublicHealth.ca, Ontario Ministry of Health and at publichealthontario.ca.

For more information and for COVID-19 risk assessment, contact our dedicated COVID-19 intake line at 613-966-5500. Phone calls are being answered 7 days a week. Hours: Monday to Friday 8:30 am - 6:30 pm; Saturday, Sunday and statutory holidays 8:30 am - 4:30 pm.

Back to Summary

We want to ensure this ebulletin is as useful as possible. Please send your questions, comments and suggestions to kkhani@hpeph.ca

Contact Information: 

To give us your comments: kkhani@hpeph.ca

To report communicable diseases:613-966-5500 x349

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

Health Bulletin Editors: Kamran Khani

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