COVID-19 - Important update from EOHU

PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTION TO ALL MUNICIPALITIES IN THE EASTERN ONTARIO HEALTH UNIT(EOHU)

REGION  BY THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH, ISSUED FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2020 AS PART OF OUR COLLECTIVE PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES TO CONTAIN AND PREVENT POTENTIAL WIDESPREAD COMMUNITY ACTIVITY OF THE COVID-19 VIRUS, I, DR. PAUL ROUMELIOTIS, MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH, DIRECT ALL EOHU REGION MUNICIPALITIES TO:

1. Close all community/sports complexes to the public until April 5, 2020.

2. Maintain municipal libraries open only under the following conditions: 

  • Increase staff awareness about COVID-19
  • Screen for and exclude users and/or staff exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19
  • Ensure users and staff practice personal protective measures (e.g., frequent hand hygiene, avoid touching eyes/nose/mouth) 
  • Provide access to handwashing facilities and place hand sanitizing dispensers in prominent locations throughout the facility 
  • Increase desk/chair distance between students (2 meters)
  • Cancel all events/meetings/gatherings
  • Restrict access to common areas
  • Follow regular cleaning and disinfecting regimes, both in terms of products used and surfaces• targeted, and increase the frequency of cleaning as necessary. 
  • Increase the frequency of cleaning of frequently touched surfaces (e.g., phones, elevator buttons, computers, desks, tables, kitchens, washrooms, seating areas, surface counters, customer service counters)
  • Where feasible, increase the distance between desks and tables as well as individuals from each other, ideally a 2-metre separation should be maintained, unless there is a physical barrier (e.g., cubicle, Plexiglas window)

If the above measures and precautions are not possible in a library, then the library will need to close.

NOTE: Community library closures may be considered in the future, based on local conditions and a local COVID-19 activity.

THE ABOVE DIRECTIVES MAY BE MODIFIED, CHANGED, OR EXTENDED AT ANY TIME BASED ON TRENDS OF COMMUNITY WIDE COVID-19 ACTIVITY.

Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, MD CM, MPH, FRCP(C) Medical Officer of Health, Eastern Ontario Health Unit

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