COVID-19 RESOURCES FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS

The Toronto Shelter Network is collecting resources to support homelessness service providers with the COVID-19 outbreak. This page will be updated when new information and resources become available. A number of these resources were taken from the Canadian Network for the Health and Housing of People Experiencing Homelessness’ website, which has done an excellent job in collecting these resources. They update their resource page daily. Click here to view their website

The City of Toronto also updates their COVID-19 website with resources and up to date information. The City has also begun posting a report which contains a summary of all currently active outbreaks of COVID-19 in shelters, respites, and 24-hour drop-in. The summary can be found here.

CAEH continues to hold free webinars on a regular basis regarding homelessness issues and COVID-19. The best way to learn about upcoming webinars is to check their twitter page here.

Masking Guidance

SSHA has updated Directive 2020-02 Universal Masking which includes the requirement for all clients and visitors to use a medical mask and includes the use of N95 respirators for staff. Please click here to read the directive.
- SSHA will be distributing N95 respirator masks to all POS and DOS service providers for staff use.
- Medical masks will continue to be provided for staff and clients

Mask Fit Testing: N95 respirator fit testing is being made available by Ontario Health Toronto at no cost to community healthcare workers, including frontline shelter and drop-in workers, in Toronto who provide direct care to clients with suspected, probable or confirmed cases of COVID.

*The Downtown East Toronto Ontario Health Team is offering N95 (1870+) Mask Fit Testing for community providers in the Downtown East Toronto area who provide direct care to clients/patients with suspected, probable or confirmed cases of COVID to support alignment with the recent directive.
-Walk-ins accepted, but staff are highly encouraged to book an appointment to reduce wait times and crowding.
-We kindly ask and remind staff to not come to the site if they have or suspect COVID-19 symptoms.
- Click HERE to book an appointment and times/locations.
* If you have any issues or questions regarding the above, please contact detoht@smh.ca. If your preferred availabilities are already booked, please write to us and we will schedule you in during those dates and times.

Click here to view a list of mask fit test service providers in Ontario

Several options exist to support N95 respirator fit testing for Toronto front-line workers:

University Health Network (UHN) is offering appointments at 700 Bay Street, Toronto beginning January 4, 2022 for eligible healthcare workers in the Toronto Region. Booking link: https://maskfitbookings.ca/cN95_1.php *Note: fit testing will be conducted by appointment only. Drop-ins will not be accepted.
Bookings will be monitored and where needed, additional dates and times will become available.
Ontario Health Team based mask fit testing, for eligible health care workers within the OHT:

o East Toronto Health Partners: individual front-line staff: https://easttorontohealthpartners.as.me/mask-fit-testing; or Full-day session for staff in your own organization (25-35 staff must be available in order to book a full-day session) https://ethp.ca/maskfittesting

o Downtown-East Toronto (DET) OHT: healthcare workers to receive a communication from the DET Family Physician Network with mask fit testing options in the coming days.

University Health Network and Ontario Health Team based mask fit testing has a limited capacity and is reserved for health care workers who need to continue serving clients with urgent and immediate needs. Service providers are responsible for validating mask-fit testing needs of their own staff. Individuals will be asked to provide proof of employment (e.g. organizational ID Badge) upon arrival at testing locations.

Available N95 Masks: To support the demand of N95 1870+ masks by primary care providers and small organizations, smaller packages of the product are now available to order. Please complete the following intake form to submit a request for PPE, Swab Kits, and Rapid Antigen Tests. All inquiries should be directed to the provincial COVID-19 Supply Chain Team at COVID19SupplyChain@ontariohealth.ca.

In-situ Isolation Planning

The COVID-19 Recovery and Isolation Program continue to experience high occupancy levels and continues to provide care for clients confirmed and suspected to be COVID-19 positive. Current eligibility requirements for the COVID-19 Recovery and Isolation Program:

- Individuals who test positive from a congregate shelter (non-hotel)
-Individuals who are symptomatic close contacts or have high clinical or substance use care needs can also be referred, the referral will be assessed by SSHA, harm reduction and clinical teams for potential admission

Service providers can continue to refer clients who meet eligibility requirements using the electronic referral or by faxing the hard copy referral to 416-696-3463.

In-Situ Isolation Preparedness

Due to the surge in positive COVID-19 cases and the increased need to isolate clients who may be confirmed or suspected of having COVID-19, all service providers will need to prepare in-situ isolation plans for their programs. These plans should be developed even prior to being in outbreak, in order to ensure preparedness. SSHA is currently working with Toronto Public Health (TPH) and Practice Health Check to create a template that can be used to develop local plans. Building on these templates, in-situ isolation plans will be unique to each site and will consider both their locations strengths and limitations in addition to their clients' needs.

In addition, The Ministry of Health guidelines for isolation and outbreaks in congregate living settings resources can be used to develop local isolation plans:
Cohorting in Outbreaks in Congregate Living Settings (publichealthontario.ca)
Guidance on Congregate Living Settings (gov.on.ca)
Public Health Ontario Managing COVID-19 Outbreaks in Congregate Living Settings Checklist

Below are resources/ documents for reference:
Update regarding the COVID Isolation and Recovery Site for Homeless and Shelter clients MEMO
SSHA COVID-19 Recovery Program Referral Form FAX
SSHA COVID-19 Recovery Program Referral ONLINE FORM

Providers are encouraged to refer clients to the Isolation and Recovery Centre when positive clients test positive. There is continuous flow in and out of the recovery centre, so please continue to refer.
If your location experiences an outbreak and requires some flexibility with operating capacity, please approach your Agency Review Officer with this request.