A new public health order is now in effect that will continue the requirement for non-vaccinated staff who work in personal care homes to provide care at a single site and enable vaccinated staff who work in personal care homes to provide care at more than one site.
“Personal care home staff on the front line provide an absolutely invaluable service to our Manitoba seniors and personal care home residents who have been hardest hit by COVID-19,” said Health and Seniors Care Minister Heather Stefanson. “Our government has fast tracked vaccinating both personal care home residents and staff, and this new public health order recognizes that work and improves staffing flexibility for personal care homes and to allow care providers to schedule additional shifts.”
In May 2020, the Manitoba government issued an emergency order for personal care homes to limit the number of employees who work at multiple sites. This order required health-care staff to work in a single personal care home, with limited exceptions. The emergency order was put in place to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in long-term care facilities.
Effective Tuesday, April 20 at 12:01am, public health moved to ease some of these restrictions by updating the orders to exempt staff who have been vaccinated for COVID-19. This applies to personal care home staff and agency staff who provide service to personal care homes.
“Across Canada, a significant proportion of reported COVID-19 deaths have affected residents of long-term care facilities,” said Stefanson. “We are continuing this order to protect our most at-risk Manitobans and ensure employees working in personal care homes can provide care safely.”
Staff who have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine can work at more than one site as early as two weeks after their first dose. The second dose must be received within 16 weeks. Staff who have been vaccinated can request a print out confirming their vaccination from their local public health office, or print a copy online. For more information, visit gov.mb.ca.
COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to reduce the risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19, as well as to reduce severe illness. As the majority of personal care home residents have also received the vaccine, having vaccinated staff move between sites will have less risk for residents, said Stefanson.
The new order will be in effect until lifted by the chief provincial public health officer, a decision that will be based on a number of different factors including case numbers, test positivity rates and the ongoing risk of COVID-19.
To view current public health orders, visit gov.mb.ca.
