COVID-19 Updates

Posted by Alan MacDonald on May 01, 2020

Performance Improvements Health & Safety Policy

The health and well-being of our employees and customers remain our highest priority. We want you to know that we are committed to keeping you and our team safe.

Since the beginning, we have followed the guidance of our local health authorities. We will continue to follow these government guidelines and take additional measures to keep you and our team safe as we navigate over the coming weeks and months.

Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore recommends Ontarians to continue wearing a well-fitted, three-layer mask in all public indoor settings. Employees and customers are welcomed to continue to wear their masks at their discretion inside our stores. The mask should properly cover the nose, mouth and chin. Please remember to show respect for others and their individual choices.

Imgrund COVID-19 Dashboard

COVID is airborne, it hangs in the air like smoke. To try and avoid yet another COVID wave, people are recommended to wear a good fitting mask upon entering any indoor location.

Think about which risks are worth taking for you and which are absolutely pointless risks. #CautionYesPanicNo

• Older adults, immunocompromised, unvaccinated and marginalized groups are still susceptible to severe illness from COVID-19.

• It's also worth remembering that ZERO percent of kids under 5 are vaccinated.

• COVID infection could lead to long covid & disability, even in mild cases

Ontario Reproduction Number

Ontario should be prepared to reintroduce masks and vax passports experts say

Ontarians should:

• Ensure that they have a complete vaccine series (includes three doses in adults, four in eligible, high-risk groups).

• Use high-quality masks whenever necessary to protect vulnerable people or themselves.

• Stay home when sick or symptomatic.

Ontario should:

• Continue improvement of ventilation and air filtration in public indoor spaces.

• Create rapid paths to testing and treatment (e.g., Paxlovid, antibodies) with a focus on equity.

• Be prepared to renew mass COVID-19 vaccination campaigns if needed.

• Be prepared to renew vaccine certificates requiring a recent booster dose for high-risk settings if needed.

• Be prepared to reintroduce mask mandates if needed.

• Maintain protective measures that are appropriate for the general health and wellbeing of those living and working in congregate care settings such as long-term care.

Only 56% of the world population has now received two COVID-19 vaccine doses, that is still too few to build sufficient immunity globally.

https://covid19-sciencetable.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Update-on-COVID-19-Projections_2022.03.17_English-1.pdf

Long COVID a burden for many Canadians