COVID-19 INFORMATION AND RESOURCES

Thrive Group- Statement on COVID-19 Pandemic

Thrive Group organizations continue to be committed to preventing the transmission and spread of COVID-19 with a focus on ensuring the health and well-being of our clients, residents, staff and family members. Thrive Group programs are geographically in multiple regions; however we typically follow the most conservative guidelines so that we can be proactive and stay ahead of the recommended safety measures. We will continue to assess these precautions as we continue to monitor local cases counts and updates from our Public Health Authorities and the Ministry of Health.

Thrive Group is keeping people safe and healthy by:

Vaccinations – The provincial vaccine campaign has demonstrated an overall great success. We continue to encourage everyone to remain up to date with all COVID-19 vaccines, meaning that you obtain all doses once you are eligible. At this time, all staff, students, contractors, volunteers, and caregivers are required to be "fully vaccinated" based on the current Health Canada definition.

Please review the vaccine requirements for general visitors in our visiting policy.

Active Screening & Surveillance Testing – All staff, contracted workers and visitors are being actively screened prior to entering any of our sites and are undergoing rapid testing. We are following all ministry directives for screening and restricting entry to buildings to anyone that screens “positive”. In addition, all residents and clients continue to be screened for any COVID-19 symptoms.

Visiting – Our visiting policy can be reviewed here. We have also created a summary document for review.

Essential Caregiver Visits - Residents/clients (or their substitute decision maker) of our LTC and congregate settings are permitted to designate essential caregivers that will be permitted to visit the home once they meet the criteria outlined in the visiting policy.

Gathering and Physical Distancing – We continue to urge everyone to follow the public health directions about gathering and physical distancing. Residents, clients, staff and visitors are encouraged to continue to practice physical distancing and urged to avoid situations like crowded places in which COVID-19 may spread more easily.

Hand Hygiene - We cannot emphasize enough the importance of washing your hands thoroughly and often. Keeping hands and nails clean, and not touching your face, is one of the best things we can all do to keep ourselves and each other healthy every day.

Universal Masking - We continue to require universal masking at all programs and homes that provide care and services. The Ministry continues to recommend (but no longer requires) caregivers and visitors to wear masks when alone in a resident/client room (1:1 scenarios). This would also include eating/drinking in resident/client rooms. If the resident or client is in a shared room, alternative accommodations will need to be considered and masks must be worn. Visitors must wear masks in all other areas inside of the home or when any staff are present in the resident/client room. Masks are no longer required for outdoor visits. Staff masking is still required at all times.

Pandemic Preparedness Activities – All areas of our business have activated Pandemic Plans to ensure that all essential care and services continue. Continuity plans, supply chain, and equipment management processes are all being monitored and adapted. The Public Health Ontario website has many resources and fact sheets available for health care providers and the public.