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Long-term Care Homes & Shelters
COVID-19 information and resources for Long-term Care Homes, Retirement Homes and Shelters
Visiting
- General visitors, including children under age 5, can visit
- Indoor Visits: Up to 4 visitors (including caregivers) per resident may visit at a time
- Outdoor Visits: There are no limits on the number of visitors permitted at outdoor visits.
- Homes should ensure physical distancing (at least 2 metres) between groups
- Essential Visitors
- There are no limits on the total number of essential visitors allowed to come into a home at any given time.
- Essential visitors are the only type of visitors allowed when there is an outbreak in a home or area of a home or when a resident has failed screening, is symptomatic or in isolation.
- Mask use
- Indoor visits – essential and general visitors must wear a medical mask
- Outdoor visits – Masking is no longer required when outdoors for staff, residents, students, volunteers or visitors, but remains encouraged as an added layer of protection against COVID-19.
- Screening and testing requirements
- Please review the COVID-19 Screening Tool for Long-term Care Homes and Retirement Homes
- Screening and testing requirements
- There are no provincial directives requiring vaccination for visitors. However, visitors should always follow the vaccination policy of the individual long-term care home.
Note: Only essential visitors are allowed during outbreaks or when a resident is in isolation.
Reference:
COVID-19 Guidance Document for Long-Term Care Homes in Ontario
- General and essential visitors are permitted. All general visits should have the following measures:
- Homes should ensure equitable visitor access for residents who are not isolating
- Visits should be booked in advance
- Visitors should wear a medical mask, maintain physical distancing, and perform hand hygiene
- Residents should be strongly encouraged to wear a mask for the visit
- Opening windows should be considered for indoor and in-suite visits
- Number of visitors
- Will be based on the capacity of the location where the visit will take place
- Should allow for sufficient space for physical distancing
- Screening and testing requirements
- Please review the COVID-19 Screening Tool for Long-term Care Homes and Retirement Homes
- All visitors must be actively screened to be permitted entry for an indoor or outdoor visit. This does not change based on vaccination status.
- Vaccination requirements
- Unvaccinated general and essential visitors are allowed, as long as they pass the screening
- Only fully vaccinated general visitors may participate in home activities, gatherings, events, and resident dining
Note: Only essential visitors are allowed during outbreaks or when a resident is in isolation.
- General visitors and Essential visitors are permitted.
- Screening and testing requirements
- Active screening must be completed prior to entering
- COVID-19 testing is not required
- Additional protocols include:
- Wearing of masks at all times for indoor visits
- Visits must be scheduled in advance
- Outdoor-only visits are encouraged, when possible
- Facilities must keep a record of visitors and completion of screening
- It is recommended to contact the facility directly prior to your visit, to confirm the protocols.
Note: this guidance applies to congregate living settings as defined in the COVID-19 Action Plan: Vulnerable People. Adult correctional institutions are not included in this guidance; separate guidance has been created for corrections.
For more information, read the COVID-19 Guidelines for Congregate Living for Vulnerable Populations Version 4, June 10, 2022 and the COVID-19 Guidance for congregate living settings funded and licensed by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services.
Directives and Guidance for Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes
As part of the plan to live with and manage COVID-19, effective June 11, 2022, Directives #1, #2.1, #3, #4 and #5, issued by the Chief Medical Officer of Health (“CMOH”), are revoked
The following directives and guidance documents must be followed:
- Minister’s Directive: COVID-19 response measures for long-term care homes (April 27, 2022)
- COVID-19 Guidance document for long-term care homes (June 11, 2022)
- COVID-19 Screening Tool for Long-Term Care Homes and Retirement Homes (Version 11 – June 11, 2022)
Mask Use
- All staff must wear surgical/procedure masks at all times, indoors and outdoors, regardless of their vaccination status.
- Staff providing care or interacting with a suspected, probable, or confirmed case of COVID-19 must wear:
- A fit-tested, seal-checked N95 respirator (or approved equivalent)
- Eye protection (face shield, safety glasses with side protection or goggles)
- Gown
- Gloves
- General visitors
- A medical mask is required for the entire duration of indoor visits.
- Residents
- Homes are required to have policies regarding masking for residents.
- There is no requirement for residents to wear a mask inside the home.
- Homes’ policies must set out that residents are encouraged to wear or be assisted to wear a medical or non-medical mask when receiving direct care from staff, in common areas with other residents (except meal times), and when receiving visitors.
- Exceptions to the masking requirements:
- Children who are under two years of age
- Any individual who is being accommodated in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 or the Ontario Human Rights Code
- If entertainment provided by a live performer (a general visitor) that requires the removal of their mask to perform their talent
- Homes must also have policies for individuals (staff, visitors, or residents) who:
- Have a medical condition that inhibits their ability to wear a mask
- Are unable to put on or remove their mask without assistance form another person
Protocols for Shelters, Group Homes, and Co-Living Settings
This guidance applies to congregate living settings as defined in the COVID-19 Action Plan: Vulnerable People and the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 Guidance: Congregate Living for Vulnerable Populations document. Adult correctional institutions are not included in this guidance; separate guidance has been created for corrections.
The following directives and guidance documents must be followed:
- COVID-19 Guidelines for Congregate Living for Vulnerable Populations Version 4, June 10, 2022
- COVID-19 Guidance for congregate living settings funded and licensed by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services.
- For requirements related to reporting suspect outbreaks of COVID-19 in highest risk settings (this includes shelters and group homes, and congregate living settings with medically and socially vulnerable individuals), please refer to page 8 in the Ministry of Health Management of Cases and Contacts of COVID-19 in Ontario (June 2, 2022 Version 14.2)
Mask Use
- All staff and visitors must wear a mask when indoors. Staff should wear a mask at all times, indoors and outdoors.
- Residents must wear a mask in common areas if physical distancing cannot be maintained.
- Medical masks are preferred for staff, residents, and visitors.
Other Public Health Recommendations
- All staff, volunteers, residents, and visitors should follow routine infection prevention and control practices (e.g. disinfecting surfaces, hand hygiene).
- Physical distancing of 2 metres should be maintained as much as possible.
- Wherever possible, employers should work with staff and unions (if applicable) to limit the number of work locations where staff work, in order to minimize risk.