KFL&A Public Health Revoke Two Class Orders

Today, Dr. Kieran Moore, Medical Officer of Health at KFL&A Public Health has revoked the following two Class Orders pursuant to Section 22 of the Ontario Health Protection and Promotion Act, 1990 that were developed in 2020.

• Class Order issued December 10, 2020 for owners and staff working in home and community care organizations to enforce the following requirements:
  • To ensure staff are aware of and practicing appropriate infection prevention and control (IPAC) practices.
  • To conduct regular IPAC audits and provide education to ensure any deficiencies are corrected.
  • To recommend to clients and families of clients who are receiving services wear a face covering (or preferably a medical grade mask) while employees are in the home.
  • To ensure all staff providing services requiring close personal contact or personal care in the community and home care settings provide a negative COVID-19 test result to their employer every two weeks, regardless of symptoms.
  • To maintain records of the education sessions, audits, and attestations for submission to KFL&A Public Health as requested.

Home and community care organization owners and staff will continue to provide infection prevention and control measures as per Ministry of Health guidelines; however, due to the low COVID-19 activity in the KFL&A region and the implementation of the COVID-19 vaccination strategy, the asymptomatic surveillance testing is no longer required for staff working in these organizations.  

• Class Order issued on June 27, 2020 to all persons who own or operate a commercial and municipal establishment in the KFL&A region to enforce the following requirements:
  • To wear a face covering when entering and accessing services at any commercial and municipal establishment in the KFL&A region.
  • To ensure the availability of alcohol-based hand rub at all entrances and exits for the use of all persons entering or exiting the establishment.
  • To ensure proper physical distancing is always practised where possible.
  • No person is required to provide proof of any of the exemptions from wearing a mask that are noted in the Order.

The Government of Ontario’s Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act (ROA), 2020 requires the wearing of masks and face coverings in businesses, workplaces (workplace vehicles, etc.), and organizations that are open. Any individuals entering and accessing services at these premises are required to wear a face covering or mask that covers their mouth, nose, and chin during the period when they are in the area.

As well in the ROA, individuals are required to maintain a physical distance of at least two metres from others, except from their caregiver or from members of their household. With the restrictions now being present in the provincial legislation, the only impact on the rescinding of this Order is the removal of the responsibility of commercial and municipal establishments to provide alcohol-based hand rub at entrances and exits of their establishment. Individuals are recommended to practice proper personal hand hygiene.

These Class Orders are rescinded as of Friday, May 28, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. and will be removed from KFL&A Public Health’s website.

“We have come so far, and as we provide increasing immunity to our community through immunization, we must all continue to practice public health measures and get vaccinated to keep our community safe. Even with the low COVID-19 activity in our area it is still important to continue to stay local as much as possible and to support local as we gradually reopen the province,” said Dr. Kieran Moore, Medical Officer of Health of KFL&A Public Health.

For the most up to date information on COVID-19, visit www.Kflaph.ca/Coronavirus or www.Ontario.ca/coronavirus.

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