Provincial Updates In consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Ontario government announced the gradual resumption of visits to long-term care homes, retirement homes, and other residential care settings. Visits will resume next Thursday, June 18, 2020, one week after the release of visitor guidelines. They will be subject to strict health and safety protocols, including requiring visitors to pass active screening every time they visit, confirming with staff that they have tested negative for COVID-19 within the previous two weeks, and complying with the infection prevention and control protocols. This includes bringing and wearing a face covering during visits. Additionally, long-term care and retirement homes, as well as other residential care settings, must meet the following conditions before they welcome visitors: • Homes must not be in outbreak; • Homes must have an established process for communicating visitor protocol and the associated safety procedures; and • Homes must maintain the highest infection prevention and control standards. For retirement homes, visitor admissions will vary from home to home depending upon their individual circumstances.
- marktadeson