TORONTO – COVID-19 Update – Cases of the U.K. B.1.1.7 variant of COVID-19 that originated in the United Kingdom have been confirmed in Toronto and other parts of the province. In light of this, Toronto Public Health (TPH) is reinforcing the importance of infection prevention and control measures (IPAC) in long-term care homes, retirement homes, correction facilities, shelters, group homes and other congregate living settings, child care centres, and schools that remain open for students with special education needs who cannot be accommodated through remote learning.
Toronto Public Health working with partners to keep people safe from new COVID-19 variants
Comprehensive IPAC measures in these settings remain in place; however, TPH is asking all facilities and settings to review, audit and reinforce consistent implementation of their current IPAC measures to reduce transmission of COVID-19 and any variant.
These measures include:
· Passive and active screening for visitors and staff
· Universal masking
· Personal protective equipment
· Proper hand hygiene
· Physical distancing
· Environmental cleaning.
When a COVID-19 case is confirmed in any of the settings listed above, TPH acts on this information to assess the potential health risk and begins a careful investigation of each unique situation. TPH works with all these settings when cases are identified to ensure that prevention measures are in place to prevent further virus spread and assesses the potential for ongoing risk of transmission to staff and vulnerable residents.
