OFRA's Outbreak & Visitor Updates

April 15, 2024 ~ UPDATE: Kotitalo COVID-19 Outbreak:

Kotitalo outbreak is declared over as of this morning!

We will continue with universal masking for two weeks.

Jenny Michelanko, RPN

Manager Kotitalo Assisted Living

April 10, 2024 ~ UPDATE: Mauno Kaihla Koti COVID-19 Outbreak:

• A Unit is Declared Over
• Great News! B Unit Outbreak is now declared over!

Helinä McGrath, RN

Executive Director of Care

As always, if you are feeling unwell, please refrain from visiting the homes.

Thank you!

IMPORTANT CHANGES EFFECTIVE FRIDAY MARCH 31ST:

• Effective March 31, 2023 as per MOH, asymptomatic screen testing is no longer required for staff, students, volunteers, support workers, caregivers and visitors.
• While passive screening requirements for staff, visitors and caregivers continue, the active screening recommendation for visitors and caregivers is no longer required. The home will continue to promote self-monitoring for symptoms of COVID-19 and other respiratory or infectious diseases to prevent the spread of illness in the facility.
• The limit of one caregiver at a time during a COVID-19 outbreak or when a resident is symptomatic or isolating under Additional Precautions, is no longer required.
• During an outbreak, Mauno Kaihla Koti and Kotitalo continues to be subject to Algoma Public Health direction per the Ministry of Health COVID-19 Guidance: Long-Term Care Homes, Retirement Homes, and Other Congregate Living Settings for Public Health Units.

Paul Belair,

Chief Executive Officer of The OFRA

Mauno Kaihla Koti Nursing Home & Kotitalo Supportive Housing

(Rules when no outbreak declared)

Masking (remains in effect for both MKK and KOT)

It remains a requirement that all staff, visitors, students & volunteers wear a properly fitting, medical grade surgical/procedural mask for the duration of time that they are in the facility. 

However, recognizing that long-term care residents miss seeing the faces of their loved ones, the ministry is recommending rather than requiring that caregivers and visitors wear masks when they are alone with a resident in their room. For residents living in shared rooms, homes should seek to designate a space to enable residents who would like to interact with their visitors without masks. When not in a one-on-one setting with a resident in their room or a designated space within the home, visitors and caregivers are still required to be masked.

Visitors

Homes may now return to their regular practice of setting their own visitor policy, in accordance with available space and applicable guidance and laws. This means that the provincially set limit of 4 visitors (including caregivers) per resident at a time for indoor visits is being removed.

Physical distancing

Residents, staff and visitors are encouraged to continue to practice physical distancing and urged to avoid situations like crowded places in which COVID-19 may spread more easily.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON "HOW TO"

Public Health Ontario – Resources for Essential Caregivers / Visitors Education:

• Fact Sheet for Visitors

Videos (hand hygiene)

• Just Clean Your Hands for family and friends - Link to described video: https://youtu.be/UrmtGsiXOVw

• Just Clean Your Hands for residents - Link to described video: https://youtu.be/YEsV_ncDvWw

Videos (Personal Protective Equipment)

Taking off Full Personal Protective Equipment

Step-by-step demonstration of how to properly take off full personal protective -Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Go3u37-dRB4 

Putting on Full Personal Protective Equipment

Step-by-step demonstration of how to properly put on full personal protective - Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvrJlOp-abo