Toronto: Ontario intends to introduce legislation that, if passed, would immediately provide job-protected leave to employees in isolation or quarantine due to Covid-19 — or those who need to be away from work to care for children because of school or day care closures.
“While everyone’s concerns about their health and safety is top of mind, the last thing we need is anyone worrying about job security as the Covid-19 situation evolves,” said Premier Doug Ford. “That’s why I directed the Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development to draft legislation that will protect workers and their families during this difficult period.”
“Mothers and fathers who need to care for children or dependents shouldn’t have to worry about losing their job,” said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development. “The same goes for people who receive medical or public health advice and are required to take precautions as a result. They shouldn’t have to worry about losing their job. In this time of uncertainty, we need to support employees who must isolate or quarantine themselves, or who need to care for a loved one.”
The proposed legislation would, if passed, provide job protection for employees unable to work for the following reasons:
- The employee is under medical investigation, supervision or treatment for Covid-19.
- The employee is acting in accordance with an order under the Health Protection and Promotion Act.
- The employee is in isolation or quarantine.
- The employee is acting in accordance with public health information or direction.
- The employer directs the employee not to work.
- The employee needs to provide care to a person for a reason related to Covid-19 such as a school or day-care closure.
The proposed legislation would also make it clear that an employee will not be required to provide a medical note if they take the leave. The measures would be retroactive to January 25, 2020, the date that the first presumptive Covid-19 case was confirmed in Ontario, said a statement from the Office of the Premier.
Many workers will be eligible for Employment Insurance sickness benefits. Current access and eligibility to emergency assistance is under review. It is available through the Ontario Works (OW) program to support individuals who are impacted by the coronavirus and who are not able to meet their basic living expenses.
“The health and well-being of Ontarians continues to be our government’s number one priority,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “We are actively working with our partners at all levels in the health care system and implementing enhanced and comprehensive measures to prevent the spread of this virus and protect the health of all Ontarians.”
“These job protections could also contribute significantly to limiting the spread of Covid-19,” said Rod Phillips, Minister of Finance. “We are giving everyone the tools they need to put their health and the health of others first, without fear of losing their jobs.”
Background:
Enhanced Measures to Protect Ontarians
Dr. David Williams, Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health yesterday detailed enhanced public health measures to help contain the spread of Covid-19.
He said the symptoms of Covid-19 include fever, new cough and difficulty breathing, and these may occur within 14 days of an exposure to another case.
Additional closures
Dr. Willaims strongly recommended a further limitation to public gatherings. “I am further advising Ontarians to avoid large gatherings of over 50 people.” In addition, he specifically requested the closure of the following as soon as possible:
- All recreational programs and libraries
- All private schools
- All daycares
- All churches and other faith settings
- All bars and restaurants, with the exception of restaurants that can shift to takeout/delivery mechanisms
Social services and youth justice sectors
The province is recommending that, where feasible, service providers consider only allowing essential visitors until further notice. They have also been asked to undertake a screening process at all locations.
The following measures have been put into place in provincially operated youth justice centres:
- Suspending all personal visitors and cancelling volunteer activities. Professional visits including legal counsel will continue however, though consideration should be given to alternative options such as the use of teleconferences.
- Approved personal visitors will be able to continue to maintain contact with youth by phone.
- Enhanced technology, such as video calling, where operationally available and operationally feasible, can be used to allow virtual visits with family.
- All non-essential reintegration leaves will be restricted until further notice. Reintegration leaves help youth in custody to reintegrate back into the community and support their rehabilitation by allowing them to leave a facility for medical, humanitarian/compassionate, employment and/or educational reasons for a specified time while following set terms and conditions, including staff escorts.
Each of community partner has been provided with the most recent update and recommendations for enhanced public health measures from Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health.
Province expanding Telehealth Ontario resources
Working closely with Telehealth Ontario, the province is rapidly expanding service capacity to ensure timely responses. This is a critical step to help address the increased daily call volumes and reduce call wait times.
Phase 1: Immediately increase resources to reduce call wait times
- The province and Ontario Health started to deploy approximately 130 nurses to conduct symptom assessments and referrals among callers who request a callback. Nurses will work from existing regional offices to provide immediate support and respond to callers seeking a callback to help mitigate current wait times.
- To onboard these additional nursing resources, Telehealth has developed a specific training package for newly added nurses to expedite their ability to provide callback support immediately. Telehealth will also increase intake staff to reduce wait times for initial contact with a Telehealth representative.
- Telehealth has been providing valuable support to the Ministry’s Emergency Operations Centre (MEOC) since the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak in mid-January. In February, Telehealth began to add additional resources to manage increased daily call volumes, including seven full-time Registered Nurses and 10 customer service representatives.
Phase 2: Continue to Manage Covid-19 Call Volumes
- While implementation of Phase 1 is currently underway, Ontario and Telehealth have already begun planning rollout of Phase 2. To further increase intake and nursing capacity over the coming days and weeks, Ontario is actively working with the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) to identify support for Telehealth from its 44,000 registered nurse members. The province has also started to explore existing non-clinical resources within the Ontario Public Service and other broader public sector organizations to support Telehealth’s call volumes.
- In order to be prepared to be nimble and effective in any scenario, Ontario is also exploring a partnership with organizations which have existing health care call centres to provide symptom assessment for Covid-19 to callers requesting a callback.
In addition to enhancing capacity at Telehealth, Ontario has approved new physician billing codes to enable doctors to continue to provide routine health care services by video and telephone, including assessment of possible Covid-19 symptoms. This will help keep patients at home rather than in their doctor’s office where they would be in close contact with others.
Ontario has also established dedicated assessment centres in areas experiencing significant growth in Covid-19 testing, with additional centres being established across the province in the coming weeks.
Before visiting an assessment centre, individuals should first seek guidance on whether it is appropriate for them to do so. Ontarians can do so by using a new online self-assessment tool, calling Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000 or calling their local public health unit. People should not go to an assessment centre unless they have symptoms of the Covid-19.
To date, there have been more than 8,000 Covid-19 related calls.
Economic and fiscal update on March 25
Rod Phillips, Minister of Finance said in response to events here at home and around the world, private-sector economists have revised the economic outlook used to develop the 2020 Ontario Budget scheduled to be released next Wednesday.
“As Ontario’s Minister of Finance, it is important that I introduce a financial plan for the province that is as current as possible given the dynamic situation. So instead of a full Budget, I will release an economic and fiscal update on March 25 based on our best understanding of the current situation,” he said.
This update will include a realistic one-year outlook based on current economic projections. It will provide certainty to hospitals, schools, municipalities, and other partners for the year to come. Our approach will include increased resources for our healthcare system, direct support for people, and action to protect jobs and our economy. This is a responsible course that maintains confidence and stability, while providing the flexibility to respond quickly to changing events.
“Ontario’s has strong economic fundamentals. We have more fiscal flexibility to respond to these sort of global events through actions we’ve taken over the previous 18 months. I’m confident that by acting decisively, and working together with our partners, Ontario is well positioned to weather the challenges ahead,” said the minister.
Elective surgeries and other non-emergent clinical activity
After consultation with the Ontario Hospital Association, and with the support of Dr. David Williams, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, the province is requesting that all hospitals further implement pandemic plans by carefully ramping down elective surgeries and other non-emergent clinical activity. In doing so, hospitals can preserve capacity as cases of Covid-19 continue to grow in Ontario.
As hospitals move forward with the implementation of their pandemic plans and decisions on their operations, Ministry of Health is asking them to follow three guiding principles:
- Use an ethical framework to guide decision-making;
- Prevent high risk and occult transmission; and
- Develop and preserve capacity within our system.
READ MORE AT COVID-19
Caption: Premier Doug Ford at yesterday’s Covid-19 press conference.