Type of Intervention: Advisory, Regulation
Sectors Involved: Health
Intervention Categories: Planning and strategy; Creation of or release of plans
Level of Jurisdiction: Ontario
Lead People/Agency: Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care; Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams
Overview: This directive was issued for Health Care Providers under Section 77.7 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act (HPPA). The directive is regarding the potential impact of COVID-19 on the work of regulated health professionals to protect them in their workplaces, and the need to prioritize patients who have or may have COVID-19 in the work that regulated health care professionals undertake. The directive outlines required steps that must be implemented immediately, including: (1) cease all non-essential and elective services (or reduce to minimal levels with some exceptions) until further notice; (2) clinicians must make decisions regarding reduction/elimination of non-essential and elective services guided on their regulatory college and the principles of proportionality, minimizing harm to patients, equity, and reciprocity.
Full details here: http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/publichealth/coronavirus/docs/directives/RHPA_professionals.pdf
Other links: 1
Type of Justification: Advice of INTERNAL government advisory committee or group, Advice of EXTERNAL expert advisor or advisory committee
Source of Evidence or Justification: World Health Organisation, Sub-national government (province)
Evidence/Justification: Cites WHO’s declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic virus (March 11, 2020) and potential severity of the illness. Also cites the spread of COVID-19 to Ontario and the declaration of emergency by the province of Ontario (March 17, 2020) under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act as justification for the development of this directive and the required steps that must be implemented.