Canada’s coronavirus spike: An update for employers

Quebec

Quebec Health

Updated March 8, 2020

The main symptoms are as follows:

• Fever
• Cough
• Difficulty breathing

The symptoms can be mild (similar to a cold) or more severe (similar to those associated with pneumonia and respiratory or kidney failure).

In rare cases, infection can lead to death. People most at risk of complications are those with a weakened immune system or a chronic disease and older people.

Québec residents who develop fever or cough symptoms or respiratory difficulties when they return from a trip outside of Canada are invited to contact Info‑Santé 811. As needed, the caseworker will tell them what institution to visit for a check-up. If a consultation is required, it is important for residents to inform the health care facility about their travel history before they go to the facility or when they arrive so that the necessary preventive measures can be taken.

There is no specific treatment or vaccine for the COVID 19. Supportive treatment can, however, be provided.

Most people with COVID 19 will recover on their own.

Coronaviruses usually cause infections of the nose, throat and lungs. In most cases, they are spread by:

• close contact with an infected person when the person coughs or sneezes;
• touching infected surfaces with your hands and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes.

In general, coronaviruses do not survive for long on objects:

• around 3 hours on inert objects with dry surfaces,
• 6 days on inert objects with wet surfaces.

Travellers from Hubei Province, China (the epicenter of the COVID‑19 outbreak) must follow the detailed recommendations on the Coronavirus disease (COVID‑19) in China.

Travellers from Iran must follow the detailed recommendations on the Coronavirus disease (COVID‑19) in Iran.

Travellers from mainland China and other countries must follow the detailed recommendations on the Coronavirus disease (COVID‑19): Travel advice page.

Travellers from the MS Westerdam must follow the detailed recommendations in the For passengers from the MS Westerdam cruise ship section of the Coronavirus disease (COVID‑19): Travel advice page.

Recognized hygiene measures are recommended for everyone:

• Wash your hands often with soap under warm running water for at least 20 seconds.
• Use an alcohol-based hand rub if soap and water are not available.
• Practice proper cough and sneeze etiquette: Cover your mouth and your nose with the arm to reduce the spread of germs.
• Dispose of tissues as soon as possible and wash hands afterwards.

Those who are worried or anxious about the coronavirus, can contact the Info‑Social 811 psychosocial telephone consultation service. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Ontario

Province of Ontario- Health & Wellness

Updated March 8, 2020

The Province of Ontario’s guidance on COVID-19 indicates: 

Coronaviruses are spread mainly from person to person through close contact, for example, in a household, workplace or health care centre. There is no vaccine available to protect against the 2019 novel coronavirus.
Employees’ risk of severe disease may be higher if they have a weakened immune system. This may be the case for:

• older people
• people with chronic disease (e.g., diabetes, cancer, heart, renal or chronic lung disease)

There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses. Ontarians are urged to  take these everyday steps to reduce exposure to the virus and protect their health:

• Wash their hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• sneeze and cough into their sleeve
• avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth
• avoid contact with people who are sick
• stay home if they are sick

If employees are travelling to an area known to have cases of coronavirus, they should be sure to avoid:

• high-risk areas such as farms, live animal markets and areas where animals may be slaughtered
• contact with animals (alive or dead), including pigs, chickens, ducks and wild birds
• surfaces with animal droppings or secretions on them

Employees who have returned from Hubei province (China) or Iran, where returning travellers are advised to self-isolate should:

• contact their local public health unit within 24 hours of arriving in Canada
• stay at home and avoid close contact with others, including those in their home, for a total of 14 days from the date they left Hubei province (China) or Iran
• contact Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000 or their local public health unit if they experience symptoms of the 2019 novel coronavirus

Employees who have returned from areas under a travel health advisory for COVID-19 should:

• monitor themselves for symptoms of the 2019 novel coronavirus for 14 days after leaving the affected area
• contact Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000 or their local public health unit if they experience symptoms of the 2019 novel coronavirus 

Alberta: 

Alberta Health Services 

Published March 8, 2020

Alberta Public Health Officials are recommending the following actions as a precaution:

• If employees have visited a Grand Princess Cruise, Iran or China’s Hubei province in the last 14 days, it is recommended they isolate themselves until two weeks have passed since that visit. This is recommended even if they are feeling well.
• Employees should self-isolate and call Health Link 811 for additional precautions and follow-up testing if they have travelled to anywhere outside of Canada and experienced any of the following: 
  • contact with someone who was suspected or confirmed to have the novel coronavirus
  • were in a health-care facility in an affected country
  • have symptoms, such as cough or fever

If an employee does not meet the exposure criteria above, they do not need to stay away from work, and do not need any testing or a physician’s note to attend work.

British Columbia: 

WorkSafe BC

Published March 6, 2020

WorkSafeBC is currently advising employers and workers that special precautions for COVID-19 are not required, beyond the recommended measures to prevent common respiratory viruses like influenza. 

These measures include:

• Washing hands often, and always after coughing, sneezing, or blowing the nose.
• Washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or, if soap and water are not available, using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoiding touching the eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoiding close contact with people who are sick.
• Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.

In addition, health care workers are recommended to consistently apply appropriate infection prevention and control measures, including hand hygiene, wearing appropriate personal protective equipment, including masks and eye protection, when assessing patients with respiratory illness, and performing a risk assessment before providing care. 

Employers and employees have a role to play in reducing the spread of infection.  Further information on preparing workplaces for COVID-19 (PDF) is available from the World Health Organization.

General Advice

• Increase awareness about COVID-19 through communication with staff.
• Consider closing common areas where people have frequent contact with each other and shared objects.
  Increase the distance between desks and workstations as well as employees and customers (ideally 2 metres).
• A physical barrier like a cubicle or Plexiglas window also works to increase distance between people. 

Hygiene

• Encourage frequent hand hygiene, sneeze and cough etiquette, and staying home when ill. ◦Consider providing additional tissues should someone develop symptoms of COVID-19.
  • If COVID-19 symptoms develop, the employee should immediately be separated from others and sent home without using public transit, if possible.
• Increase the frequency of cleaning to at least twice daily, with particular attention to high-touch surfaces, such as: bars, desks, phones, kitchens, computers, cash registers, elevator buttons and restaurant tables and menus. 
• Provide access to handwashing areas and place hand sanitizing dispensers in prominent locations throughout the workplace, if possible.

Flexible Work Arrangements And Sick Leave

• Where feasible, adjust policies to reduce social contact, such as: flexible hours, staggering start times, teleworking arrangements, using email and teleconferencing.
• Relax sick leave policies to support employees in self-isolating when ill. This includes suspending the need for medical notes and reduces the burden on an already stressed health care system.
• Prepare for increases in absenteeism due to illness among employees and their families or possibly school closures. Access your business continuity plan for how to maintain key business functions if faced with high absenteeism.
• Consider the need for cross-training personnel to function in key positions. 

Business Travel

• For business travel, check the latest information on affected areas and any travel health notices. Consider the risks and benefits related to upcoming business travel. It may be better for the health and safety of your employees if they attend meetings virtually.
• International business travellers returning from affected areas should self-monitor for symptoms. Employees should contact the public health authority in the province or territory where they live.
• Finally, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer has just advised against travel for leisure on cruise ships for the time being.

Closure

Workplace closures may be considered in an exceptional circumstance and should be based on a risk assessment. This may be the case if many employees must be off to prevent the spread of COVID-19.