McCormick Care Group – COVID-19 Update

Thursday, October 15, 2020

This is a McCormick Care Group – COVID-19 Update for Thursday, October 15, 2020.  We will continue to provide these updates twice weekly, on Mondays and Thursdays, or as needed.

There are no probable or suspected cases of COVID-19 among our residents or staff at this time.

The Ministry of Long-Term Care released an updated Directive #3 yesterday that takes effect on Friday, October 16, 2020.   Changes within Directive #3 are related to resident absences:

Absences. All non-medical absences need to be approved by the home. In the event of an outbreak in the home, all non-essential absences should be discontinued.

The resident or substitute decision maker must make an absence request to the home. Homes must review and approve all non-medical absence requests based on a case-by-case risk assessment considering, but not limited to, the following:

• The home’s ability to support self-isolation for 14 days upon the resident’s return.
• Local disease transmission and activity.
• The risk associated with the planned activities that will be undertaken by the resident while out of the home.
• The resident’s ability to comply with local and provincial policies/bylaws.
• Any further direction provided by the Ministry of Long-Term Care.

For homes located in public health unit jurisdictions where there is evidence of widespread community transmission as per provincial direction, absences are not permitted except for medical or compassionate reasons.

As communicated previously, due to the COVID-19 activity in the London-Middlesex area, Dr. Alex Summers, Associate Medical Officer of Health with the Middlesex-London Health Unit, strongly recommends that homes continue to suspend all non-essential visitors and resident absences.  With that being said, if you would like the home to consider a resident absence for your loved one, please submit a written request indicating the details of the visit and the health measures in place to protect your loved one and others upon returning to the home.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Tanya Pol
Administrator