Premier Doug Ford has declared a state of emergency in Ontario, immediately ordering select closures of gatherings above 50 people. The measure announced closes indoor recreation centres, public libraries, private schools, parades, places of worship, licensed day-care centres, cinemas, theatres, concerts and the like until the end of March.

Premier Doug Ford has declared a state of emergency in Ontario, immediately ordering select closures of gatherings above 50 people. The measure announced closes indoor recreation centres, public libraries, private schools, parades, places of worship, licensed day-care centres, cinemas, theatres, concerts and the like until the end of March.

Yesterday, Health Minister Christine Elliott announced in no uncertain terms that any health professional who travels abroad MUST upon return to self-isolate for 14 days. RNAO is thanking the minister for a decisive action that puts an end to variation in practices by health organizations and serves to protect health professionals and patients alike.

Can health providers returning from travel go back to work immediately? Most of the emails I received today address the discrepancy between what Health Minister Christine Elliott announced earlier this month and what some of our teaching hospitals are doing.

Can health providers returning from travel go back to work immediately? I received today over 50 emails from staff nurses concerned over contradictory directives and fearing for their health, that of their colleagues, patients and families.

PPEs: A key area of concern is the availability of PPEs for the protection of nurses, physicians, other health workers and patients. Given the extensive community spread of COVID-19, and the evidence that persons, including health workers, became contagious before symptoms appear, one cannot assume that asymptomatic health workers are not spreading the virus.

The tragedy in long-term care defies description. Of Ontario's official toll of 713 COVID-19 deaths, 72%, or 516 of those deaths, have occurred in long-term care facilities. There are currently outbreaks in 132 nursing homes, or just over a fifth of the 626 homes province-wide, and there are outbreaks in 63 retirement homes.

PPEs: A key area of concern is the availability of PPEs for the protection of nurses, physicians, other health workers and patients. Given the extensive community spread of COVID-19, and the evidence that persons, including health workers, became contagious before symptoms appear, one cannot assume that asymptomatic health workers are not spreading the virus

I want to start by thanking you for reaching out to us with your experiences, your concerns and also your thanks. After reviewing and responding to most of today’s issues, PEE availability is undoubtedly today’s top concern. These is a concern for the protection of nurses, physicians, paramedics, midwives, lab technicians, other health workers and patients – with added urgency in long term care, primary care and home care.