With the announcement yesterday from our Premier that Ontario is entering into it’s second State of Emergency, we wanted to update the Participation House Community on our actions to address this direction.
For the past ten months we have worked tirelessly to ensure diligence and extreme commitment to the health and safety of all those associated with the organization. We successfully managed and overcame a minor outbreak in early December. Our success was due, in part, to our stringent in-house infection control practices, our relationship with the Region of Durham Public Health, their ongoing support, and our ability to respond to their direction. As always, our success is hugely impacted by our staffs strong and ongoing commitment to minimizing risk to all by adhering to these guidelines.
In response to this most recent announcement, we will be closing the administrative building at 55 Gordon St., Whitby. We are still accessing our voicemail daily and will be able to respond if it is necessary to do so. Currently, we are only accepting essential visitors at our service locations and are assisting people remain within their living environments and only leave for essential purposes. We have also transitioned our Community Activation Supports to a virtual platform. If you have not already received this information and would like to, please reach out to Heather Hall, hhall@nullphdurham.com.
We continue to take our direction from the MCCSS and Durham Region Public Health, as our highest priority is the wellbeing of all.
What this means for our organization: All MCCSS-funded congregate living settings operated by The Participation House Project in Durham Region must implement the following enhanced precautions:
Visitors and Visiting:
Short-stay absences must be limited to activities that enable health and important life activities (e.g., school, doctors’ appointments etc.), As a rule, a resident is expected to practice physical distancing, hand hygiene and to wear a face covering (with support where necessary) when on a short stay absence.
Note: specific settings (e.g. schools and offices of regulated medical professionals) may have specific requirements and protocols regarding a short stay absence in those settings; Please ensure you familiarize yourself with these guidelines prior to accessing a specific setting.
- Essential visits and essential overnight absences are permitted. “Essential visitors” are distinct from other visitor types in The Visitor’s Guidelines 2.0: Reopening of Congregate Living Settings so agencies can facilitate, on an individual resident basis, relationships that are necessary to maintain their health, wellness and safety in the context of overarching visitor restrictions. Agencies are strongly encouraged to consider the importance of the principles of emotional well-being and flexibility for their residents in addition to infection risks.
- Non-essential and designated indoor/outdoor visits are prohibited -this means that visits amongst units at a location are currently being suspended.
Recreational Activities:
- Recreational activities outside of the residence are currently suspended
Day Supports and Services:
- Virtual supports are being provided.
Throughout our ongoing navigation of this pandemic, PH has been following our three-pronged approach which ensures that we are proactive, responsible, and responsive in our commitment to handle and mitigate risk within our organization and community. This includes being keenly aware of the need to step back into enhanced precautions at any time it is required.
We will continue to keep you updated on our direction as we monitor and assess our next steps in managing the ongoing risk. We thank you for your ongoing patience during these unprecedented times and your support. We are all in this together as together we will get through this! #inthistogether