Tag Archives: Westport

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Safety Plan Required when Moving to “GREEN-PREVENT”

I have received many inquiries since yesterday asking about the legislation as we move to “Green – Prevent” on February 16. Upon quick review, many of the requirements look similar to our “Green-Prevent” experience in 2020 including the numbers of people – inside/outside. I have attached the link to the legislation for easy access and you should refer to it to answer your questions. “Green-Prevent” is referred to as “Stage 3” in the legislation. https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/200364

I bring to your attention that there is a requirement for a written safety plan and have cut and pasted it from the legislation.

Safety plan

3.3 (1) The person responsible for a business, place, facility or establishment that is open shall prepare and make available a safety plan in accordance with this section, or ensure that one is prepared and made available, no later than seven days after the requirement first applies to the person.

(2) The safety plan shall describe the measures and procedures which have been implemented or will be implemented in the business, place, facility or establishment to reduce the transmission risk of COVID-19.

(3) Without limiting the generality of subsection (2), the safety plan shall describe how the requirements of this Order will be implemented in the business, place, facility or establishment including by screening, physical distancing, masks or face coverings, cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces and objects and the wearing of personal protective equipment.

(4) The safety plan shall be in writing and shall be made available to any person for review on request. 

(5) The person responsible for the business, place, facility or establishment shall ensure that a copy of the safety plan is posted in a conspicuous place where it is most likely to come to the attention of individuals working in or attending the location. 

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Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit

MEDIA RELEASE February 12, 2021

LGL Goes Green-Prevent on Feb 16

On February 16 at 12:01 AM, the Ontario  Stay At Home Order will be lifted in Leeds, Grenville and Lanark, and  we will move into the Ministry COVID-19 Response Framework in the Green-Prevent Zone. Ontario’s COVID-19 Response Framework as of 12:01am on Tuesday, February 16.

The lifting of the Stay-at-Home order in Leeds, Grenville and Lanark recognizes that our residents, municipalities, workplaces, businesses, and services have followed public health precautions well to reduce COVID-19 transmission within our region. 

“We are pleased to be returning to the Framework in the Green–Prevent zone,” said Dr. Paula Stewart, Medical Officer of Health for the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit. “Now is the time for everyone to be COVID-SMART, stay within our health unit region, and support our local businesses and services.  For organization and businesses, a COVID Safety Plan that outlines adherence to all required COVID-19 precautions in the Green- Prevent Zone, will keep employees safe, as well as the public.”

To keep ourselves, our family, friends and neighbours protected, it is important to continue to only have close contact with members of our own household. While social gatherings are now allowed for up to 10 people inside and 25 outside, consider carefully if an in-person get-together is essential and, if it is, then ensure everyone keeps 2 metres apart and wears a well fitted cloth mask.

The specific requirements for the Green-Prevent Zone of the Framework are outlined in O. Reg. 364/20: RULES FOR AREAS IN STAGE 3. You can check out the standard Ontario measuresin this zone and also check the Ontario’s COVID-19 Response Framework webpage to see how the Province’s measures affect the Leeds, Grenville, Lanark area.

As we released earlier this week, the new requirements added to the Framework include:

1.       Posting clear and visible signage at all business entrances, with detailed COVID-19 screening questions to facilitate passive screening of patrons.

2.       Active symptom screening of employees; the tool can be accessed online or downloaded (PDF) from the Ontario government website.

3.       Preparation of a safety plan for organizations and businesses that is available upon request.

The Province has included an “emergency brake” in their plan to allow a public health region that is experiencing high levels of COVID-19 transmission to quickly contain the community spread by quickly moving the region into Grey-Lockdown to interrupt the transmission of COVID-19.

The government considers a range of criteria when determining a Health Unit’s zone in the Framework. The Chief Medical Officer of Health considers case rate over a number of weeks, confirmed presence of COVID-19 variants of concern (VOCs); as well as health system and public health capacity. 

For local information about COVID-19 visit our website at www.healthunit.org.

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Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit

MEDIA RELEASE: February 9, 2021

Stay at Home order to be lifted on Feb 16th in LGL

The lifting of the Stay-at-Home order in Leeds, Grenville and Lanark recognizes that our residents, municipalities, workplaces, businesses, and services have followed public health precautions well to reduce COVID-19 transmission within our region that causes illness, hospitalizations and outbreaks in schools, long-term care and retirement homes.

The Province’s plan to lift the Stay-at-Home order for the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit region on February 16th, 2021 means that we will also be functioning within the Ministry COVID-19 Response Framework from that point on. Ontario’s COVID-19 Response Framework

What zone of the Framework will our health unit area be moving to on February 16th?

The government considers a range of criteria when determining its zone in the Framework:

  • Advice from the Chief Medical Officer of Health who considers trends in key indicators, including:
  • Epidemiology of the virus (e.g., case rate over a number of weeks, % positivity), including confirmed presence of COVID-19 variants of concern (VOCs);
  • Health system capacity;
  •  Public health system capacity; and
  • Local context and conditions

The Province will announce our zone by Feb. 16.  Based on current trends it could be Green-Prevent or Yellow-Protect which was where we were when the Shutdown occurred on Dec. 26, 2020.

The specific requirements for the Green, Yellow and Orange Zone of the Framework are outlined in O. Reg. 364/20: RULES FOR AREAS IN STAGE 3. In the Yellow Zones there are some more restrictions compared to the Green Zone in regards to opening hours or restaurants, liquor service and sales times, music volume, spacing of 3m for fitness activities, and collecting contact information.

New requirements added to the Framework include:

1.       Posting clear and visible signage at all business entrances, with detailed questions to facilitate passive screening of patron  in accordance with instructions on screening issued by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health;  

2.       Active symptom screening of employees; and

3.       Preparation of a safety plan for organizations and businesses, and make it available upon request.

All of us have a responsibility now to ensure we continue to follow all COVID-19 precautions and keep ourselves, our family, friends and neighbours protected form COVID-19 infection. This will ensure our health care providers and hospitals are able to provide regular care, mental health and community services are available, our schools stay open, and business and services thrive.

For local information about COVID-19 visit our website at www.healthunit.org.

Check for updates to the Ontario’s COVID-19 Response Framework webpage in the coming days for more information on how the Province’s measures affect the Leeds, Grenville, Lanark area.