Ministry of Health Guidance Documents
Group Homes, Co-Living Settings, Shelters, and Residential Treatment Centres
This document is aligned with the government’s COVID-19 Action Plan for Vulnerable People and replaces the former guidance documents for Group Homes and Co-Living Settings, Guidance for Homeless Shelters, and Guidance for Community-Based Mental Health and Addictions Service Providers in Residential Settings.
Hospice
Ministry of Children Community and Social Services
The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) has released Updated Direction for Congregate Care Settings. At this time, all congregate care settings in all public health unit regions across the province are to follow enhanced precautions. Enhanced precautions will remain in place until the setting has been notified by the Ministry that the community’s level of COVID-related risk has changed.
Congregate living settings should review this updated direction to understand current requirements for essential visits, short-stay absences and outings, essential overnight absences, personal protective equipment use amongst staff, and precautions for settings in an active outbreak. Facilities should also follow any guidance provided directly by MCCSS.
All MCCSS-funded congregate living settings must follow the direction provided by MCCSS. Congregate living settings that are not funded by MCCSS are recommended to follow this guidance as best practices for COVID-19 precautions.
Public Health Ontario Resources
WDGPH Resources
- WDGPH Enhanced COVID-19 Surveillance Checklist for Congregate Settings
- Congregate Settings Tabletop Exercise Slides – October 28, 2020
- COVID-19 Tabletop Exercise – Tip Sheet for Dufferin County Facilities
- COVID-19 Tabletop Exercise – Tip sheet for Guelph and Wellington Facilities
- Guidance for Eye Protection – Long-Term Care, Retirement Homes, and other Congregate Settings - July 16, 2021
Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC)
Public Health Ontario has posted a webinar, Foundations of COVID-19 Prevention and Control for Congregate Living Settings. The recording of the webinar and the presented slides are available here.
IPAC Checklists for Congregate Living Settings
- Checklist – COVID-19 Preparedness and Prevention in Congregate Living Settings
- Checklist - Managing COVID-19 Outbreaks in Congregate Living Settings
General Resources:
- Infection prevention and control fundamentals – provides links to key resources
- How to keep your distance
- How to self-isolate while working
- Self-Isolation: Guide for caregivers, household members and close contacts
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
- How to Wear a Surgical Mask
- How to put on and take off PPE videos:
- Putting on and taking off PPE handout
- Mask use for non-healthcare workers
- Droplet and contact precautions in non-acute care facilities
- Masking for source control of COVID-19: Considerations for workers in non-healthcare settings
- IPAC recommendations for use of PPE for care of individuals with suspect or confirmed COVID-19
- Conservation and disposal of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for non-healthcare providers during COVID-19 pandemic *last updated May 19, 2020
- COVID-19: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Non-Medical Masks in Congregate Living Settings (Public Health Ontario)
- WDG Guidance for Eye Protection - July 16, 2021
General cleaning and disinfection:
- WDGPH COVID-19 Guidance: Checklist for Cleaning and Disinfection in Congregate Settings
- Public Health Ontario - Cleaning and disinfection for public settings
- Public Health Agency of Canada - Cleaning and disinfecting public spaces during COVID-19
- Health Canada - Hard surface disinfectants and hand sanitizers
Signage
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Please visit our Signs and Posters page
Screening and Testing
- The Ministry of Health guidance document for each sector describes the screening process and actions to take based on the screening result.
- COVID-19 self-assessment
- COVID-19 reference document for symptoms
- COVID-19 provincial testing guidance update
- COVID-19 Patient Screening Guidance Document