Through news media reports, you may be aware that restrictions have been slightly eased which previously limited personal care home staff to working at one and only one facility. Manitoba Health officials reassessed the previously implemented policy and determined that because of the success of the Province’s COVID-19 immunization program having vaccinated Personal Care Home Residents and a high percentage of their employees – certain exemptions for staff working in long-term care could be considered.
The specific impact on our Home is minimal as we have less than a handful of staff who were previously working at two sites. Please be assured that the exemption process for any of our team who now wish to resume or start working at another personal care home will be very carefully managed. Only those staff who have acquired protection from the virus* will be approved for the exemption and we fully continue to support the option for all our team members to dedicate themselves to working solely at our Home.
*To even be considered for an exemption to work at another long-term care home, staff must have been immunized with at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and have received the vaccination 14 days prior to the exemption being granted. Staff must also provide proof of immunization and will also be required to supply proof of receiving their second dose.
We continue to be doing all that we can from an infection control perspective to protect our entire family of Residents and staff from the COVID-19 virus and its variants. Like all of us, we are craving our past freedoms and only by each of us doing our part in respecting the restrictions specified by Manitoba’s Chief Provincial Public Health Officer will we get there.
We just have to keep on trying to beat this pandemic. Giving up is not an option!
Warmest regards,
Sherry Heppner
Development Coordinator
The Convalescent Home of Winnipeg