MEMO: TIKINAGAN PANDEMIC MEASURES – UPDATE
MEMO: TIKINAGAN PANDEMIC MEASURES – UPDATE
To: All Staff
Date: March 2, 2022
RE: TIKINAGAN PANDEMIC MEASURES – UPDATE
In light of local pandemic situations in our region, Tikinagan will keep all current pandemic measures in place until the end of March 2022 including:
- Staff at all Tikinagan offices are to work remotely and only go into offices if necessary for essential/urgent tasks and only when approved by a Manager. Furthermore, meetings, gatherings or internal and external contacts in-office or off-site should be done virtually or by phone and NOT in-person unless absolutely necessary.
- Staff are reminded to follow the measures in our Return to Workplace protocol for any urgent in-office work, including completing the Daily Health Screening before entering our offices (do not go to the office if you answer Yes to any of the screening questions), not coming to the office if you or someone in your household is ill, using hand-sanitizer upon entry and exit, wearing a mask and washing your hands frequently.
- Please note that we currently have enhanced masking measures requiring staff attending Tikinagan offices to wear an N95 or KN95 or two disposable masks (not cloth ones) except when at your desk. Furthermore, if you share an office or work in an open space with others, you must wear masks at all times.
- Also a reminder that eye protection (faceshield or goggles) and enhanced masking (N95, KN95 or double disposable masks) are required for work-related duties as follows:
o any time you enter someone’s home or
o need to be closer than 6 feet to someone not wearing a mask, e.g. carrying a baby or toddlers
o providing care to a client in a hotel or transporting a client in a vehicle or other closed in space. - If staff or someone living or staying with them travel outside of Canada we require that staff NOT attend Tikinagan offices, drive Tikinagan vehicles or have in-person contact with staff or clients for 14 days after their return or the arrival of anyone staying with them who travelled outside of Canada.
- If a Tikinagan employee contracts COVID-19 (tests positive on a Rapid or PCR Test) or is a close contact to someone who tests positive for COVID-19 they cannot attend a Tikinagan office/facility, use a Tikinagan vehicle, or have in-person contact with staff or clients for 10 days after testing positive or 10 days after last contact with someone who has tested positive. This time period exceeds current provincial guidelines but is in place as extra precaution. Staff person must also follow any additional advice of health officials regarding self-isolation or other restrictions. Please see attached policy.
- Staff are reminded to consult and follow the Service Contingency Plan to deliver services. In-person contact with clients should only occur when necessary.
- Premium Pay is in place when caring for a child in care or any in-person contact with clients. Please see attached Premium Pay policy.
- And a reminder that if staff are tested for COVID-19, they are required to promptly notify their supervisor, PPE Chair Arlene McClendon, Christina Zatorsky & HR Manager Sarah Morin.
- Tikinagan staff are also required to follow any local pandemic measures put in place. Please keep your supervisor up to date on outbreaks or any changes to pandemic measures in your community.
Please note above list contains enhanced measures in excess of provincial requirements or previous Tikinagan measures and where they conflict the higher levels prescribed above are to be followed.
Attached are the Pandemic Measures in the Workplace Protocol (formerly call the Return to the Workplace Protocol) the Services Contingency Plan, the AOH Staffing Shortage Contingency Plan as well as recent memos/information regarding Premium Pay, employees testing positive or close contact with positives and PPE.
I know that this pandemic has been hard of all of us and all of our communities. But following the measures helps to prevent outbreaks and protects vulnerable people in our communities. Please take care of yourself and your families.