To continue to ensure safety for residents and reduce the risk of COVID-19 entering and spreading in long-term care homes, effective December 30, 2021 at 12:01am Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) directed all long-term care homes to take the following actions:
- Access to long-term care homes by general visitors will be paused. General visitors will continue to be permitted to enter the home to visit residents receiving end of life care.
- Day absences for all residents for social purposes will be paused. All essential, medical or compassionate absences will continue to be permitted.
- Essential Family Caregivers (EFC) continue to be able to come into homes with a maximum of two per resident at a time. We recognize the impact these temporary measures have on residents, their families, and staff in the home.
The Ministry of Long-term Care and the CMOH will continue to review policies and monitor the situation in Ontario. At this time, it is anticipated that these additional enhanced temporary measures will be required for at least the next 6 to 8 weeks.
Effective immediately, all EFC’s entering Shalom Manor and Gardens must wait for their rapid test results before proceeding to the floor or apartment. At present, there are no other changes to protocols for visits and absences from the Gardens.
Best regards,
John Peneycad, CEO