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Check out how we’re doing with this fun video we’ve created!
Keeping you informed on the latest agency updates on COVID-19.
COVID-19 Update: January 27, 2022
Good Afternoon Everyone
The following is for the period of December 28, 2021 – January 26, 2022:
Positive Tests – 57
Resolved – 54
Active Cases – 3
Thanks.
Ron
COVID-19 Update: January 19, 2022
Good Morning Everyone
In the last week, several employees have tested positive, several employees have been cleared, several people who access services have tested positive, and several people who access services have been cleared.
Everyone is fully vaccinated.
Ron
COVID-19 Update: January 12, 2022
Good Afternoon Everyone
Several people who access services and several employees have tested positive for COVID-19.
Everyone is fully vaccinated, and fortunately, everyone is doing fine.
Ron
COVID-19 Update: January 7, 2022
Good Afternoon Everyone
The two employees who had tested positive for COVID-19 have returned to work.
It is great to have both of them back.
A person who accesses services and lives in one of the homes has tested positive.
The person is self-isolating until January 13th.
The individual is fully vaccinated and doing fine.
Ron
COVID-19 Update: January 5, 2022
Good Afternoon Everyone
An employee has tested positive for COVID-19.
The person is fully vaccinated.
This individual can return to work as of January 7, 2022.
Ron
COVID-19 Update: December 30, 2021
An employee has tested positive for COVID-19 through a PCR test.
The individual was tested on December 28th, and received results this morning.
This person needs to isolate until January 6, 2022, and is fully vaccinated.
Ron Coristine
COVID-19 Update: December 2, 2021
The employee who had tested positive for COVID-19 received an email from the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit on Friday, November 26th, stating that the person was cleared to come back on Monday, November 29th, at end of day.
We are very happy for this person.
Ron Coristine
COVID-19 Update: November 17, 2021
An employee of CLC-K has tested positive for COVID-19.
The Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit advised that the person must self-isolate until November 24, 2021.
The person is fully vaccinated.
Ron Coristine
COVID-19 Update: November 9, 2021
Good Morning Everyone
The employee who had rested positive for COVID-19 reports a full recovery.
The person was free to return to work on November 6th, at midnight.
We are extremely happy for this person.
Ron Coristine
COVID-19 Update: November 3, 2021
Good Afternoon Everyone
The person who accesses services and had tested positive for COVID-19 has tested negative.
The individual is receiving medical care.
CLC-K wishes this person the very best.
Ron Coristine
COVID-19 Update: October 29, 2021
Good Afternoon Everyone
An employee of CLC-K has tested positive for COVID-19.
The person has been advised by the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit to quarantine until November 6, at 12:00 am.
Fortunately, this individual is fully vaccinated.
Ron Coristine
COVID-19 Update: October 19, 2021
Hello Everyone
A person who accesses services has tested positive for COVID-19.
Hopefully, this person has a speedy recovery.
Ron Coristine
COVID-19 Update: August 11, 2021
Good Morning Everyone
The Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit has declared the outbreak at the Summer Program over.
The third participant is eligible to return to the Summer Program today (August 11th).
Ron Coristine
COVID-19 Update: August 6, 2021
COVID-19 Update: August 3, 2021
Hello Everyone
A third participant in Community Living Chatham-Kent’s Summer Program has tested positive for COVID-19.
The person is self-isolating.
The Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit is providing direction.
Ron Coristine
COVID-19 Update – July 28, 2021
Good Afternoon Everyone
Community Living Chatham-Kent’s Summer Program has had three people test positive for COVID-19, one Job Coach and two participants.
Several other people are now self-isolating.
The Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit is providing direction.
The Summer Program is currently not operating, and it will resume only if the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit gives approval.
Thanks.
Ron Coristine
COVID-19 Update: May 18, 2021
The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 has recovered.
We are extremely happy for this person.
Ron Coristine
COVID-19 Update: May 7, 2021
An employee of Community Living Chatham-Kent has tested positive for COVID-19.
The Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit has informed the person to self-isolate until May 16th.
Fortunately, the individual has no symptoms and is feeling well.
The CLC-K family wishes this person the very best.
COVID-19 Update: Feature Article: April 26, 2021
Triage Protocol Continues to Threaten People Who have Diverse Abilities
As advocates for people who have diverse abilities and reside in Ontario, we continue to be dismayed at the priority the Ontario government appears to be placing on the lives of these 1.85 million Ontarians. While we, and other organizations, have been asking for transparency on the critical care triage protocol, the updates received come from the media, not our provincial government….Read More
COVID-19 Update: Feature Article: April 2, 2021
Baranyai: Triage framework should be debated as COVID’s third wave rises
Under normal circumstances, patient triage is about identifying who should be treated first: who needs resuscitation, and who can wait to have their broken wrist set. It is not a question of whether the patient receives the care they need, but when…read more
COVID-19 Update: March 23, 2021
If you are among the ‘unsure’ or ‘no’ group for the covid-19 vaccine please take 4:30 minutes to watch this very informative video released through Immunize Canada. It is very educational.
COVID-19 Update: March 11, 2021
Hi Everyone
Managers and front-line employees (Day Programs, Residential Homes, Respites, Community Supports, JOBWORX, and Making It Happen) who wanted to be vaccinated received their first shot. We continue to practise all of the preventative measures.
In February, the agency underwent a Quality Assurance Measures Compliance Review. Katie O’Leary from the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services did seven site inspections, and she reviewed twenty-nine files of people who access services, fourteen employee files, Board Records, Board Minutes, Serious Occurrence Reports, Fire Safety Plans, Monthly Health & Safety Inspections, and Equipment Maintenance Records with a focus on COVID-19 Preparedness and Prevention. CLC-K did outstanding having no (zero) non-compliances. I extend a special thank-you to Sandy Morrow, Lisa Blonde, Brad Verfaillie, Managers, and Direct Support Professionals for all of their work.
An Abuse Education Video has been created by CLC-K. To Angel, Sue, Terri, Aaron, Justin, Donald, Tod, and Saaj, you were awesome.
CLC-K has partnered with the Chatham-Kent Sexual Assault Crisis Centre. People, who are vulnerable, will participate in Human Trafficking Educational sessions. Very valuable information will be provided in hopes of keeping them safe in today’s world.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day.
Bring on Spring!
Ron Coristine
COVID-19 Update: February 8, 2021
The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 has recovered.
This person can return to work on February 8. Great news!
COVID-19 Update: February 5, 2021
When it’s your turn, #RollUpYourSleeve for the COIVD-19 vaccine.
COVID-19 Update: January 29, 2021
An employee of Community Living Chatham-Kent has tested positive for COVID-19.
We will be following direction provided by the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit.
The CLC-K family wishes this person the very best.
COVID-19 Update: January 22, 2021 – A Letter from our Executive Director to the Provincial Government
COVID-19 Vaccine Role Out Should be Based on Needs vs Location
By Ron Coristine, Executive Director, Community Living Chatham-Kent
The COVID-19 vaccine is a key tool in our fight to contain this global pandemic. With numbers continuing to rise in communities across Ontario, it is critical that the most vulnerable people, and the staff who support them, are at the front of the line to receive the vaccine.
Sadly, this is not happening.
Despite the fact that Community Living Chatham-Kent provides essential support to several people who are highly vulnerable, neither these people, nor our staff, are scheduled to get the COVID-19 vaccine in this first wave.
Why? Because the Ontario government is not allocating vaccines based on the needs of vulnerable populations but is making decisions based on institutional categories. This approach does not take into account the medical needs and risk factors of the persons supported by Community Living Chatham-Kent and other agencies.
For example, recent studies have shown that people who have Down Syndrome are at a greater risk of becoming severely ill if they contract COVID-19. They are ten times more likely to die and five times more likely to be hospitalized. You can see why it is so important they receive the vaccine in the first wave.
Yet despite the known risks for people who have Down Syndrome and people who have complex medical needs, unless they live in a long-term care home or hospital setting, they are not prioritized to receive the vaccine.
The consequences of not vaccinating these people in the first wave, and the staff who support them, could be unnecessary illness and even death for thousands of Ontarians, putting tremendous strain on the healthcare system. A strain that is easily avoided by providing early access to COVID-19 vaccines.
Priority population
Despite the fact that several people who receive support could suffer severe health complications if they contracted COVID-19, they are not on the radar of the Ontario government as being a priority population.
At Community Living Chatham-Kent, we have made a commitment to keep these people safe in their community. The best way we can keep this commitment is to have the people and staff vaccinated, therefore, protecting them against COVID-19.
We are asking the Ontario government to do the right thing – include people who are highly vulnerable as well as the staff who support them, in the first wave of vaccinations, regardless of the setting in which they live or work.
This means moving from prioritizing institutions to identifying high-risk sub groups when determining the vaccine rollout.
By doing so, the government will help protect these people who are vulnerable and ensure we can continue to support them in community versus in the hospital.
COVID-19 Update: January 14, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ontario Government Asked to Remove Secrecy and Release COVID-19 Critical Care Triage Protocol
Did you know your child, parent or neighbour could be denied critical care based on pre-existing conditions or assumptions healthcare professionals make regarding their quality of life versus ability to recover from COVID-19?
There remains much uncertainty about what level of healthcare Ontarians who have disabilities will receive if they contract COVID-19. Despite the Ontario Government having cancelled a controversial critical care triage protocol that disproportionately impacted individuals with disabilities, they have yet to publicly release the new triage protocol submitted by the Bioethics Table in September.
“It’s unacceptable that Ontarians still have not seen the triage protocol to be used by hospitals in the event resources are overwhelmed due to an influx of patients with COVID-19,” explains Brian Dunne, President and CEO of Participating Housing Supports and Services (PHSS). “This protocol could be used to determine who is refused the critical care they need.”
“While we know the previous triage document disproportionately impacted the 1.85 million Ontarians who have a disability, we are still waiting to see its replacement,” says Ron Coristine, Executive Director of Community Living Chatham-Kent. “This despite the fact the Ontario Human Rights Commission has called for its public release and stated it has concerns about human rights issues in the report.”
“As organizations that value and recognize the contributions of individuals who have disabilities, we are calling on the Ontario government to immediately make public the Bioethics Table’s report and recommendations,” says Roxanna Spruyt-Rocks, CEO of DeafBlind Ontario Services. “This is a human rights issue that impacts one in seven Ontarians. We cannot remain silent as life and death decisions are made that potentially discriminate against individuals who have disabilities.”
With COVID-19 cases rising rapidly, the lack of information regarding a potential new triage document continues to put individuals who have disabilities at risk as medical staff may determine who receives life-saving critical care based on stereotypes or assumptions about disabilities.
As organizations that value and recognize the contributions of individuals who have disabilities, we are calling on the Ontario government to take the following actions:
- Immediately release the new Bioethics Table report and recommendations
- Hold open, accessible and inclusive consultation on how critical care triage decisions should be made
- Develop and make public any new directives or protocols related to critical care triage
- Ensure the constitutional and human rights of all patients, including individuals who have disabilities, are respected
“We are asking residents to email or call their MPP, demanding the Ontario Government release the Bioethics Table’s critical care triage report,” says Dunne. “We all have a right to see how life and death decisions will be made that could impact our parents, friends and family members.”
COVID-19 Update: January 12, 2021
The person who receives support and had tested positive for COVID-19 has recovered.
We are very happy for this person.
Ron Coristine
COVID-19 Update: January 7, 2021
The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 has recovered.
We are extremely happy for this person.
Ron Coristine
COVID-19 Update: January 1, 2021
A person who receives support has tested positive for COVID-19.
Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit personnel has advised that the person can self-isolate at home.
The person can come out of self-isolation on January 8 /21, at days end.
CLC-K employees are providing the best support.
Thanks.
Ron Coristine
Have questions? Check out our Q&A page here.
Any further questions can be directed to info@clc-k.ca.
More Resources:
For the latest updates in Chatham-Kent, please visit: https://ckphu.com/covid-19/
Think you might have COVID-19? Take a Self Assessment at: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/self-assessment/#q0
Latest News Releases:
June 11, 2021 – Ontario Seeks Input from the Francophone Community
June 7, 2021 – Ontario to Move to Step One of Roadmap to Reopen on June 11
May 20, 2021 – Ontario Releases Three-Step Roadmap to Safely Reopen the Province
May 13, 2021 – Ontario Extending Stay-at-Home Order across Most of the Province to Save Lives
February 8, 2021 – Ontario Extending Stay-at-Home Order across Most of the Province to Save Lives
February 3, 2021 – Ontario Expanding Supports for Families of Children with Autism
January 15, 2021 – Ontario Extends Reopening Ontario Act Orders
December 21, 2020 – Ontario Announces Provincewide Shutdown to Stop Spread of COVID-19 and Save Lives
December 14, 2020 – Ontario Delivers First COVID-19 Vaccine in the Country
December 10, 2020 – Ontario extends COVID-19 Orders
November 21, 2020 – Province moving Chatham-Kent to Yellow-Protect tier to combat COVID spread | Chatham Daily News
November 2, 2020 – Ontario Implementing Additional Public Health and Testing Measures to Keep People Safe
October 20, 2020 – Ontario Extends COVID-19 Orders to Protect the Public
September 25, 2020 – Ontario Updates COVID-19 Testing Guidelines
September 19, 2020 – Ontario Limits the Size of Unmonitored and Private Social Gatherings across Entire Province
September 11, 2020 – Ontario Launches COVID-19 School and Licensed Child Care-specific Web Page
August 21, 2020 – Ontario Extends Orders Under the Reopening Ontario Act, 2020
August 20, 2020 – Create a Social Circle During COVID-19
August 19, 2020 – Get Support for Families – Up to $200-$250 Per Child for Back to School
August 5, 2020 – Ontario Provides More Supports for Families of Children on the Autism Spectrum
August 4, 2020 – COVID Alert Available for Download Beginning Today
July 16, 2020 – Ontario Extends Emergency Orders
July 13, 2020 – Nearly All Businesses and Public Spaces to Reopen in Stage 3
July 9, 2020 – Ontario Extends Emergency Orders
June 27, 2020 – Ontario Extends Emergency Orders to July 10
June 24, 2020 – Ontario Extends Declaration of Emergency to July 15
June 17, 2020 – Ontario Extends Emergency Orders
June 9, 2020 – Ontario Helping Parents Return to Work
June 2, 2020 – Ontario Extends Declaration of Emergency until June 30
May 27, 2020 – Ontario Extending Emergency Orders During COVID-19 Outbreak
May 19, 2020 – Health and Safety Top Priority as Schools Remain Closed
May 14, 2020 – Ontario Announces Additional Workplaces that Can Reopen
April 23, 2020 – Ontario Delivers Action Plan to Increase Protection for Vulnerable People and Those Who Care for Them
April 20, 2020 – Health Experts Say the COVID-19 Outbreak Has Likely Peaked in Ontario
April 10, 2020 – Enhanced testing strategy will help stop the spread of the virus
Downloads (PDF):
COVID-19 Information Guide By and For People with Disabilities
How to Help reduce the Spread of COVID-19
How To De-Escalate Stressful Situations
Taking Care of your Mental Health
Ensuring Our Own Wellbeing as We Care for Others
Cleaning and Disinfection for Public Settings
