PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING CORONAVIRUS COVID-19 VNA ACCADEMY POLICIES
For Staff, Students and Visitors

At this time, we continue to safely enroll new students for Winter starts through phone meetings. Our Education Consultants are ready to answer your questions about how we are continuing to deliver learning to our students during this time and how you can enroll for future programs.

The safety, health, and well-being of our students is our top priority. The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has assessed the public health risk associated with COVID-19 as low for Canada. The public health risk is continually reassessed as new information becomes available.

Our organization is closely monitoring the local, national, and international occurrence of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and will provide updated policies as the situation evolves.

Students are asked to review the following VNA Academy’s policies and guidelines.

During this challenging and unprecedented time, we want you to know that, as always, we are here to support you through your studies. When you made the decision to head back to school, it was with the desire to create a better life for you and your loved ones. Now, more than ever is that goal even more important.

We recognize the coronavirus (COVID-19) is new and different and therefore is understandably causing concern among people.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, and general tiredness; however, a small percentage of people have serious symptoms, such as pneumonia. If you show any of these symptoms and have traveled lately or been in contact with anyone who might have the coronavirus, you should follow the advice of all provincial health services for determining whether to self-isolate.

Provincial health services advise that to reduce the risk of respiratory illnesses, including flu and COVID-19, please remember to:

• Wash your hands often and well
• Avoid touching your face, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Clean and disinfect surfaces that are frequently touched
• Stay at home and away from others if you are feeling ill
• When sick, cover your cough and sneezes and then wash your hands

VNA Academy strongly believes that to protect its staff, students, and visitors in the midst of a pandemic.

1. Check that signage has been placed at the entrance of the office to ensure no one with symptoms enters and occupancy limits are observed. Social distancing guidelines are based on a 6-foot separation of individuals, but physical barriers are also appropriate.
2. Using tape on the ground to indicate “line starts here” concept and placing tape marker at 6-feet intervals. Follow walking directions on floor to guide one-way traffic.

Employees, In order to minimize the risk of person to person transmission of the virus, self-assessment for symptoms and overall health prior to coming into the office, is required to protect coworkers, students, the public, and ultimately oneself.

COVID-19 Symptoms include:

1) Fever

2) Cough

3) Shortness of breath

4) Chills

5) Muscle pain

6) Headache

7) Sore Throat

8) Loss of taste

9) Loss of smell

Any employee who falls into one or more of these categories will not be permitted to enter at any office or campus location:

• Is experiencing one or more of the above symptoms;
• Has been in close contact with a person who has been diagnosed with COVID-19;
• Has traveled outside of Canada in the past 14 days or has been ordered to self-isolate since returning from travel. Any employee experiencing COVID-19 symptoms listed above should contact Health Services at 811 and perform the COVID-19 assessment, following their directions.

They must leave the office immediately and notify their supervisor of their departure. Any surfaces the employee has come into contact with will be immediately disinfected.

Any employees who have health or safety concerns with the work environment should contact their supervisor for guidance and assistance.

Supervisors should consider the feasibility of phasing their team’s return to the work location based on role functions:

• Alternate employees’ workdays in the office and telework
• Stagger arrival and departure times
• Enable employees sharing an office to negotiate their own “in-office” schedule
• Provide sanitizer, wipes, and PPE as appropriate
• Encourage employees to clear desk surfaces daily.

Supervisors are responsible for ensuring the proper sanitization of all workspace areas, including office, boardroom, shared equipment such as photocopiers, coffee makers, and high-touch surfaces, such as doorknobs, elevator buttons, light switches, etc. prior to opening each day.

Visitors must be contacted prior to appointment to determine if they are experiencing any known COVID symptoms. No visitors with these symptoms should be allowed to enter the office and must be advised to contact 811 to be assessed by public health professionals.

Anyone working or visiting the office or campuses will be invited to fill out the self-monitoring sign-in sheet (COVID-19) at reception.

Social distancing must be implemented in all areas of the offices, between reception, staff, students, and visitors.

Stagger appointments by scheduling them at least 30 minutes apart, to ensure social distancing and time for proper disinfecting.

Where possible, contracts, and invoices, are to be sent electronically (Receptionist). Where possible, payments are to be contactless (Receptionist).

Any visitor who refuses to comply with these measures can be refused entry and can be asked to leave the premises due to safety concerns.

Although hand sanitizer has been made available at the reception area, DO NOT shake hands. Visitors should arrive alone for their appointment. Proper cleaning and precautions must be taken between visitors including disinfecting surfaces such as doorknobs, keyboards, chairs, tables, pens, Interac machine keypads, etc.

Always use caution when using cleaners and disinfectants and follow product recommendations. Public bathrooms will be disinfected regularly and should have a notice for users indicating that the bathroom is limited to two people simultaneously, and asking them to use with caution. Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) When social distancing is not possible, all individuals in the room are required to wear a well-fitted face mask that covers their nose and mouth.

Masks are to be worn for the entire visit.

Homemade masks are acceptable if they meet the stated requirements: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirusinfection/prevention-risks/about-non-medical-masks-face-coverings.html

Plexiglas sneeze guards have been installed at front desks to help protect reception staff during interactions with visitors, as they continue to work on the front lines.

Effective Hygiene Practices Must use 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Frequent and proper handwashing remains critical even when using PPE. Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose, and mouth, to help prevent infections. Covering coughs and sneezes and keeping hands clean can help prevent the spread of viruses. Sneezing into the elbow can effectively prevent droplets from spreading, whereas you could still sneeze through a tissue.

Company Policies Employees can take unpaid, job-protected leave related to COVID-19 if they are unable to work for any of the following reasons:

• They have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and are following the instructions of a medical health practitioner
• They are in self-isolation and are acting in accordance with an order of the provincial health authorities
• They need to provide care to their minor child or a dependent adult who is their child for a reason related to COVID-19, including a school, daycare or similar facility closure
• They are outside of the country and unable to return to work due to travel or border restrictions Employees who fall within the situations above are encouraged to make the appropriate requests as per the leave of absence policies.

For Public Health Authority contact information in Ontario, please call 1-866-797-0000   www.ontario.ca/coronavirus.

Trusted Websites

• Public Health Agency of Canada
• Public Health Ontario

Factsheets

• Mask use for non-healthcare workers – Public Health Ontario
• Physical distancing – Public Health Ontario
• How to wear a mask – Public Health Ontario
• How to wash your hands – Public Health Ontario
• Cleaning and disinfecting for public settings – Public Health Ontario
• COVID-19 Guidance for Employers, Workplaces and Businesses – Toronto Public Health

Mental Health Resources

• Taking care of your mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic – Government of Canada
• Mental health, wellness and addictions support – Government of Ontario

Taking care of your mental and physical health during the COVID-19 pandemic

If you’re in crisis

If you’re in immediate danger or need urgent medical support, call 911.

If you’re experiencing gender-based violence, you can access a crisis line in your province or territory.

You may also access support workers, social workers, psychologists and other professionals for confidential chat sessions or phone calls by texting WELLNESS to:

• 686868 for youth
• 741741 for adults

For a wide range of resources and support for Canadians:

• Wellness Together Canada portal for mental wellness and substance use issues

Commonly asked Questions

What if I need to stay home with sick family members?

• The college can, at its discretion, apply for an extension of the contract, as needed.

What if that time missed causes me to become noncompliant with attendance?

• The college can, at its discretion, apply for an extension of the contract, as needed, and or request the student complete extra hours to complete course/program requirements within the originally contracted timeframe.

What if that time impacts graduation dates?

• The college can request a contract extension

What if employers are adjusting hours of work and that impacts practicum hours?

• As above for amendment of the contract and extension of the end date.

What if the college needs to reschedule classes due to an Instructor illness?

• If it happens within the period of the existing contract options will be addressed on a case by case basis. This may include prolonged study days or an extension of the end date.

Reporting Sick Time:

• Email, voicemail, or text message.

Return to Study:

• In general, written medical clearance will not be required for return to study.

Students at Higher Risk:

Students that are at increased risk for complications from COVID-19 due to underlying health conditions are urged to consult their physician about steps they can take to protect their health. These may include the implementation of additional protective measures to reduce their exposure to others or the chances of being infected.