“You treat a disease, you win, you lose. You treat a person, I guarantee you, you’ll win, no matter what the outcome.”  Patch Adams

COVID-19 has been and will be a documented difficult time in our history, but we are now forging ahead and finding new ways to live and function with the virus the best way we can.
Thursday March 11th marks the one year anniversary that the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that global pandemic.
Wow- so much has changed since this time last year!!!

Internal Updates

Surveillance Swabbing

SJCCC and the Clarion site continue to swab weekly.  Surveillance swabbing information is provided via email to all staff.  Please ensure to check your email for the date and times of the swabbing clinics and the updated COVID-19 Virus Test Requisition form to be completed.

Antigen testing continues at both of our Villa sites.  Swabbing is occurring daily.  Please see your email for additional communications regarding antigen testing at your site.

Please remain vigilant and immediately self-isolate and report any symptoms consistent with COVID-19 infection to your immediate supervisor.

Vaccines

The remainder of our residents at St. Joseph’s Villa and Villa St. Gabriel Villa received their second vaccination this past week as well as some staff members.
Fabulous news indeed!
A special thank you to all staff who assisted at each site.

Additional Community Vaccine Clinics were held last week at Health Sciences North.
Thank you to all staff who made appointments and went for their vaccines.
We are one step closer to helping eliminate the COVID-19 spread.

New vaccination clinic dates are being released by the Sudbury and District Public Health Units on a regular basis.
Please ensure to check your email daily for information on the upcoming clinics as time is of the essence to make appointments. 

Getting vaccinated is critical to protecting yourself, your loved ones, and our most vulnerable individuals from COVID-19.
Each additional person vaccinated brings us one step closer to eliminating COVID-19 from our facilities and our community.
As an organization we are working to build vaccine confidence.
If you are wavering or still have questions about the vaccine, please speak with your Supervisor who can direct you to where you can access the answers you are looking for.

Provincial Update

As of March 9, 2021, in Ontario, the cumulative total of confirmed cases is 311,112 which is an increase of 1,185 – this includes 292,806 resolved cases and 7,083 reported deaths.

Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020 (ROA) remains in effect.
On March 8th, Public Health Sudbury & Districts moved into the Red – Control zone.

Local Update

  • Sudbury & Districts Public Health Unit – 204

Health Facilities in outbreak:

  • L’Arche Sudbury – Jericho Group
  • Sudbury Developmental Services
  • The Walford

Schools in outbreak:

  • École Alliance St-Joseph school
  • Holy Trinity Catholic Elementary School
  • Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School
  • Algonquin Public School
  • Jean Hanson Public School
  • Lasalle Secondary School
  • Cyril Varney Public School

Potential Exposures

Potential high-risk of exposure to COVID-19 specifically for anyone who attended Urban Air Adventure Park (1066 Barrydowne Road) on Saturday, February 27, 2021.

Actions to take:

Anyone who attended Urban Air Adventure Park on Saturday, February 27, 2021, is advised to follow public health guidance:

  • Seek COVID-19 testing as soon as possible. In addition to this, if symptomatic or you become symptomatic at any time, seek testing as soon as possible.
  • Even if a negative test result is received, individuals must remain home and self-isolate up until and including March 13, 2021.

HSN is reporting 1 confirmed case.

In Closing…

Building flexibility into our work and our schedules, and creating space for innovation and change, is a pillar of inspiring people and teams.
In the year since COVID-19 changed the way we live and work, we have learned that coming to work and being able to work in isolation or being able to work remotely meets some of these needs, improves work-life balance and eases our anxieties.

We are supporting one another each and everyday.  Collectively we need to remain vigilant and not let the spread of COVID-19 get out of hand.

Please continue to be patient and kind to one another.

Remember…
Staying Healthy and Staying Safe, Safe Lives!

Jo-Anne Palkovits
President and CEO
St. Joseph’s Health Centre

You can help.  http://weblink.donorperfect.com/sjsudbury_CaringBeyond

Your donation will ensure the best care while providing much needed equipment and repairs for St. Joseph’s Villa during this global pandemic.  We need your help.  Thank you. Merci.