Self-Isolation for Essential Workers

Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA)

On March 21, 2020 the provincial government announced a temporary order under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA).

The order granted hospitals the ability to designate healthcare workers as essential to operation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

What you need to know

Ensuring the health, safety and well-being of our people, teams, patients and community remains our top priority. At JBH, we have implemented a new COVID-19 Testing and Exposure Voicemail for JBH team members 905.632.3737 extension 7777.  This voicemail box is monitored regularly by Employee Health and individuals can expect a response by phone within 24 hours. A reminder, if you have symptoms of COVID-19, do not come to work.

In order to preserve and protect our necessary workforce, we are following the Interim Guidance Omicron Surge from Public Health with respect to testing and return to work of Health Care Workers (HCW) with high-risk exposures. Our policy regarding testing and return to work has been and will continue to be consistent with current Ministry of Health recommendations, which were last updated by the Ministry on December 30, 2021. In the event of an outbreak, testing requirements will be guided by Public Health, IPAC and Employee Health.

 

Testing Requirement for Work Self-Isolation

(i.e. Patient Facing and Essential Workers)

Home Self- Isolation (i.e. Non Patient Facing Remote Workers)

1. YOU HAVE TESTED POSITIVE for COVID-19
  • Please contact the Urgent COVID-19 Testing and Exposure Voicemail at extension 7777. Please leave one message and a member of the Employee Health Team will be in touch by phone with guidance related to your situation.
  • HCW to remain off work and self-isolate at home until you receive further guidance from the Employee Health, Provincial Workforce and/or Public Health

2. YOU ARE SYMPTOMATIC (i.e. you have symptoms associated with COVID-19 listed on the self-screen)

Active Screening - My Joseph Brant Hospital
  • Patient Facing and Essential Workers off work pending COVID-19 PCR testing
  • PCR test as soon as possible –please see “Access to PCR Testing”
    • If PCR positive – see above
    • If PCR negative, return to work when symptoms improving

 For any positive result – immediately isolate at home and notify EHS

  • Non Patient-facing healthcare workers self-isolate at home and continue to work remotely (working when symptoms improving)
  • If recalled to site – Human Resources will be in touch with respect to testing requirements

3. YOU ARE ASYMPTOMATIC –Ongoing Exposure with Positive COVID-19 Case (i.e. Household case)
  • Please contact the Urgent COVID-19 Testing and Exposure Voicemail at extension 7777. Please leave one message and a member of the Employee Health Team will be in touch by phone with guidance related to your situation.
    • You may return to work on work self-isolation 10 days from last exposure to the case (up to 15 days from the date on which the household case became symptomatic or from the date of the positive test of the household case).
    • You are required to complete the following testing to remain at work as long as you remain asymptomatic and as long as you complete the following testing and remain negative on all tests:
      • PCR test on day 0 (First Day), on or after day 7
      • Self-administered Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) daily while exposure is ongoing and daily for 10 days after last exposure. 
        • RAT must be performed at home prior to coming into the workplace.
        • RAT are not intended for family members of hospital staff.
    • Staff are required to self-screen and attest at each shift
    • For any positive or indeterminate result – immediately isolate at home and notify EHS

4. YOU ARE ASYMPTOMATIC –High Risk Single Exposure with Positive COVID-19 Case

 
  • Please contact the Urgent COVID-19 Testing and Exposure Voicemail at extension 7777. Please leave one message and a member of the Employee Health Team will be in touch by phone with guidance related to your situation.
  • You may return to work, on work self-isolation
  • You are required to complete all of the following testing to remain at work:
    • PCR test as soon as possible and if negative, repeat testing on day 5
    • Rapid antigen testing (RAT) daily for 7 days.
    • For any positive or indeterminate result – immediately isolate at home and notify EHS

Work Self-Isolation

Information on work self-isolation can be found here: COVID-19: How to Self-isolate While Working (publichealthontario.ca) Highlights include:

  • Take your temperature twice a day to monitor for fever.
  • Travel to and from work in your private vehicle. If you have to take transit, wear a surgical/procedure mask and perform hand hygiene before and after your travel to work.
  • During work, wear surgical/procedure mask and any additional Personal Protective Equipment, based on Routine Practices and Additional Precautions.
  • Do not eat your meals in a shared space (e.g., conference room, lunch room) with other HCWs.
  • Work in only one facility where possible.
  • Self-isolate when outside of the workplace.

Tools & Resources

Questions

If you have questions about self-isolation while working, speak with your manager. If you require additional support, contact Employee Health Services. 

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