Item - 2022.HL33.3
Tracking Status
- This item was considered by Board of Health on January 17, 2022 and was adopted with amendments.
HL33.3 - Response to COVID-19 - January 2022 Update
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
Board Decision
The Board of Health:
1. Reaffirmed its request that the Government of Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada apply a global health lens to the global and Canadian vaccine response, including measures and resources to scale up vaccine production and access for regions with low vaccination coverage and to assist provinces and municipalities to develop a global health lens for the local pandemic response.
2. Expressed its support for the Government of Canada to immediately expand the Rent Supplement Program so that it can be delivered to all people experiencing homelessness or who are precariously housed and to fully utilize the powers under the Federal Emergencies Act to support efforts to secure and prolong new or existing shelter hotel space, as necessary.
3. Reaffirmed its request that the Province of Ontario require COVID-19 vaccination for students who are eligible based on their age/year of birth.
4. Requested the Province of Ontario to make every effort to maintain in-person learning, which is critical to the physical and mental health of students, by implementing measures to promote safety in schools and child care settings, including, but not limited to, testing, the provision of Personal Protective Equipment, including high-quality masks to students, improved ventilation and efforts to encourage vaccine uptake by children and youth, their families and workers in the education and child care sectors.
5. Requested the Province of Ontario to explore and, as appropriate, to enhance and expand programs and measures to increase vaccine confidence amongst parents and caregivers of children and youth, such as information and consultation services to address questions on vaccines and the development and implementation of public information campaigns aimed at both parents and youth.
6. Requested the Province of Ontario to facilitate access to vaccinations by allowing third doses to be booked where out of province vaccination records are not yet entered, with the requirement that valid proof of eligibility is provided at clinics, as is done for 5- to 11-year-old children without Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) coverage.
7. Requested the Province of Ontario to immediately update COVID-19 prevention measures in workplace settings, based on the evidence, to include ventilation and Personal Protective Equipment requirements to protect against Omicron transmission in workplace settings, consideration of the direct provision of High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters and respirators in workplaces and neighbourhoods where transmission risks are highest and ensuring that each workplace has a vaccination policy to protect workers from the severe effects of Omicron.
8. Expressed its support for the Province of Ontario to provide secure and long-term funding for Toronto's supportive housing expansion program starting in 2022.
9. Requested the Medical Officer of Health to work with the City Manager and the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration to urgently explore and implement plans to address shelter safety, including but not limited to:
a. consulting with service providers and those with lived experience of homelessness;
b. immediately expanding the capacity of recovery and non-congregate shelter beds;
c. increasing the number of housing allowances and subsidies and requesting the Federal Government to cover the associated costs; and
d. expanding overdose prevention, education, training and response within the shelter system.
10. Requested the Medical Officer of Health to work with the Deputy City Manager, Community and Social Services to explore opportunities to expand the distribution of high-grade masks to neighbourhoods that have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19.
11. Requested the Medical Officer of Health to work with Toronto school boards to explore opportunities to increase the level of reporting to parents and the public of cases and outbreaks in school settings, where possible.
12. Requested the Medical Officer of Health to accelerate the hyperlocal COVID-19 vaccination strategy in order to maximize access to clinics and appointments in areas with low COVID-19 vaccination coverage, including building-specific clinics, where feasible.
13. Requested the Medical Officer of Health to continue to explore and, where appropriate, to implement measures to incentivize vaccination against COVID-19 on an ongoing basis.
Decision Advice and Other Information
The Medical Officer of Health, the Fire Chief and General Manager - Emergency Management and Toronto's COVID-19 Incident Commander and the Deputy City Manager, Community and Social Services gave a presentation on Response to COVID-19: January 2022 Update.
Summary
The Medical Officer of Health will give a presentation on Response to COVID-19 - January 2022 Update.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-175176.pdf
Communications
(January 5, 2022) E-mail from Madeleine Cooper (HL.Main)
(December 31, 2021) E-mail from Sam Kaufman (HL.New)
(January 12, 2022) E-mail from Aneil Agrawal (HL.New)
(January 12, 2022) E-mail from Ron Dwyer (HL.New)
(January 12, 2022) E-mail from Melissa Martin (HL.New)
(January 12, 2022) E-mail from Peter Maxwell (HL.New)
(January 12, 2022) E-mail from Carol Pasten (HL.New)
(January 12, 2022) E-mail from Jeff Smith (HL.New)
(January 13, 2022) E-mail from Jacqueline Cosgrove (HL.New)
(January 16, 2022) Submission from Dr. Maggie Hulbert, Health Providers Against Poverty (HL.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/hl/comm/communicationfile-143802.pdf
(January 16, 2022) Submission from Greg Knittl (HL.New)
(January 17, 2022) Submission from Margot Boyd (HL.New)
(January 17, 2022) Submission from Greg Cook, Shelter and Housing Justice Network (HL.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/hl/comm/communicationfile-143841.pdf
(January 17, 2022) Submission from Cathy Crowe (HL.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/hl/comm/communicationfile-143800.pdf
(January 17, 2022) Letter from Roxie Danielson, Street Nurses Network (HL.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/hl/comm/communicationfile-143801.pdf
(January 17, 2022) Submission from Dr. Martha Fulford (HL.New)
(January 17, 2022) Submission from Dr. Doris Grinspun, Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (HL.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/hl/comm/communicationfile-143823.pdf
(January 17, 2022) Submission from Dr. Rochagné Kilian (HL.New)
(January 17, 2022) Letter from Laura MacDonald, Regent Park Community Health Centre (HL.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/hl/comm/communicationfile-143820.pdf
(January 17, 2022) Submission from Derek Moran (HL.New)
Speakers
Dr. Doris Grinspun, Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario
Greg Knittl
Dan Hartman
Alice Cavanagh, Health Providers Against Poverty
Cathy Crowe
Ann Nolan
Kelly Brown
Margot Boyd
Dr. Donald Welsh, Western University
Derek Moran
Laura MacDonald, Regent Park Community Health Centre
Greg Cook, Shelter and Housing Justice Network
Dr. Rochagné Kilian
Motions
That:
1. The Board of Health request the Medical Officer of Health to accelerate the hyperlocal COVID-19 vaccination strategy in order to maximize access to clinics and appointments in areas with low COVID-19 vaccination coverage, including building-specific clinics, where feasible.
2. The Board of Health request the Medical Officer of Health to continue to explore and, where appropriate, to implement measures to incentivize vaccination against COVID-19 on an ongoing basis.
3. The Board of Health request the Province of Ontario to explore and, as appropriate, to enhance and expand programs and measures to increase vaccine confidence amongst parents and caregivers of children and youth, such as information and consultation services to address questions on vaccines and the development and implementation of public information campaigns aimed at both parents and youth.
4. The Board of Health request the Province of Ontario to facilitate access to vaccinations by allowing third doses to be booked where out of province vaccination records are not yet entered, with the requirement that valid proof of eligibility is provided at clinics, as is done for 5- to 11-year-old children without Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) coverage.
5. The Board of Health request the Province of Ontario to make every effort to maintain in-person learning, which is critical to the physical and mental health of students, by implementing measures to promote safety in schools and child care settings, including, but not limited to, testing, the provision of Personal Protective Equipment, including high-quality masks to students, improved ventilation and efforts to encourage vaccine uptake by children and youth, their families and workers in the education and child care sectors.
6. The Board of Health reaffirm its request that the Province of Ontario require COVID-19 vaccination for students who are eligible based on their age/year of birth.
7. The Board of Health reaffirm its request that the Government of Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada apply a global health lens to the global and Canadian vaccine response, including measures and resources to scale up vaccine production and access for regions with low vaccination coverage and to assist provinces and municipalities to develop a global health lens for the local pandemic response.
8. The Board of Health request the Medical Officer of Health to work with the City Manager and the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration to urgently explore and implement plans to address shelter safety, including but not limited to:
a. consulting with service providers and those with lived experience of homelessness;
b. immediately expanding the capacity of recovery and non-congregate shelter beds;
c. increasing the number of housing allowances and subsidies and requesting the Federal Government to cover the associated costs; and
d. expanding overdose prevention, education, training and response within the shelter system.
9. The Board of Health express its support for the Federal Government to immediately expand the Rent Supplement Program so that it can be delivered to all people experiencing homelessness or who are precariously housed and to fully utilize the powers under the Federal Emergencies Act to support efforts to secure and prolong new or existing shelter hotel space, as necessary.
10. The Board of Health express its support for the Provincial Government to provide secure and long-term funding for Toronto's supportive housing expansion program starting in 2022.
11. The Board of Health request the Medical Officer of Health to work with Toronto school boards to explore opportunities to increase the level of reporting to parents and the public of cases and outbreaks in school settings, where possible.
12. The Board of Health request the Medical Officer of Health to work with the Deputy City Manager, Community and Social Services to explore opportunities to expand the distribution of high-grade masks to neighbourhoods that have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19.
13. The Board of Health request the Province of Ontario to immediately update COVID-19 prevention measures in workplace settings, based on the evidence, to include ventilation and Personal Protective Equipment requirements to protect against Omicron transmission in workplace settings, consideration of the direct provision of High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters and respirators in workplaces and neighbourhoods where transmission risks are highest and ensuring that each workplace has a vaccination policy to protect workers from the severe effects of Omicron.