{"id":3115,"date":"2025-01-09T08:55:10","date_gmt":"2025-01-09T16:55:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/safecarebc.ca\/?p=3115"},"modified":"2025-01-09T08:55:11","modified_gmt":"2025-01-09T16:55:11","slug":"infection-prevention-and-control-measures-for-viral-respiratory-illness-season-ministry-of-health-policy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/?p=3115","title":{"rendered":"The Province has introduced a new masking policy for all healthcare workers providing direct care effective immediately"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Staff Requirements<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Staff in long-term care and home care must wear masks when providing direct patient care (this includes all affiliates that receive public funding)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Visitor Guidance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Visitors are encouraged, but not mandated, to mask.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Visitors seeing multiple residents are required to mask.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With an increase in viral respiratory illnesses (VRI) across the province, the Ministry of Health has introduced new masking measures to help control the spread of these illnesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It's important to remember that masking is just one part of a comprehensive infection prevention and control (IPAC) strategy. To enhance your efforts, SafeCare BC offers a range of resources to support you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Masking should be included as part of a robust infection prevention and control plan that includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Education and training<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Respiratory and hand hygiene<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Environmental cleaning and disinfection<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Vaccination<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Surveillance and monitoring<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Communication<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check out the resources below for support with your respiratory disease management strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Resources:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>RESOURCE | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/wathttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=5Ci1jQU4s-Ich?v=5Ci1jQU4s-I\">Donning PPE<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>RESOURCE | <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/-GMSuFim5gM\">Doffing PPE<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>RESOURCE | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=0d_RaKdqeck\">Instruction for disposable respirators<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Reinforce infection prevention and control practices:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Facility operators should have alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) available at the entrances to all facilities and at the point of care.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Facility operations should post appropriate signage at entrances, washrooms, and common areas, directing people to clean their hands.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Healthcare workers must perform rigorous hand hygiene using the four moments of hand hygiene.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Resources:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>RESOURCE | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=3PmVJQUCm4E\">Handwashing with soap and water<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>RESOURCE | <a href=\"https:\/\/4ct0f.r.a.d.sendibm1.com\/mk\/cl\/f\/PiN7Jb8ptfGTEu5lIOkT5wv8vhRqzYeCd7UoCSTNoDvxpzj6X62EdYlX2WcFMMeIrrxRMiUkfK_hyrwqsXNZgFEnLgx_yF-6qQlzPjnbqOuzVGME0PFM7s2x_WIuVpKlfE3QOXQ1ENfLl52UxFNrLnso2QIxMEumezY3-ThKgHRIC77XTTy4nphPmvneHlkS\">Handwashing with alcohol-based hand rub<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>RESOURCE | <a href=\"https:\/\/www2.gov.bc.ca\/assets\/gov\/health\/about-bc-s-health-care-system\/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer\/reports-publications\/covid-19-handwashing-poster.pdf\">Poster \u2013 How to wash your hands<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>RESOURCE |<a href=\"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/resources\/huddles\/hand-washing\/\" data-type=\"huddle\" data-id=\"253\"> Safety huddle \u2013 Hand washing<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>RESOURCE | <a href=\"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/resources\/hierarchy-of-control\/infection-prevention-long-term-care\/\">Hierarchy of control for long-term care<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>RESOURCE | <a href=\"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/resources\/hierarchy-of-control\/infection-prevention-home-and-community-care\/\">Hierarchy of control for home and community care<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Immunization:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Healthcare workers are encouraged to keep up to date with immunizations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Resources:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>RESOURCE | <a href=\"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/training\/elearning\/vaccine-basics\/\" data-type=\"elearning\" data-id=\"227\">Vaccine Basics&nbsp;<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>RESOURCE | <a href=\"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/training\/elearning\/vaccine-basics-for-leaders\/\" data-type=\"elearning\" data-id=\"228\">Vaccine Basics for Leaders<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>RESOURCE | <a href=\"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/topic\/influenza\/\" data-type=\"topic\" data-id=\"176\">Seasonal flu vaccines<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Review and test your exposure control plan:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Regularly review and update your\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/resources\/templates\/exposure-control-plan-template-infectious-disease\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u>exposure control plan<\/u><\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Talk to your staff about the plan, how to activate it, and their roles and responsibilities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Resources:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>RESOURCE |<a href=\"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/resources\/checklists\/exposure-control-plan-checklist-infectious-disease\/\" data-type=\"checklist\" data-id=\"4473\">Exposure control plan checklist<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>RESOURCE | <a href=\"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/resources\/templates\/exposure-control-plan\/\" data-type=\"template\" data-id=\"279\">Exposure control plan template<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Staff Requirements Visitor Guidance With an increase in viral respiratory illnesses (VRI) across the province, the Ministry of Health has introduced new masking measures to help control the spread of these illnesses. It's important to remember that masking is just one part of a comprehensive infection prevention and control (IPAC) strategy. To enhance your efforts, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":3116,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[60,68],"tags":[],"topic":[],"class_list":["post-3115","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-regulatory"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-09-15 19:07:57","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3115","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3115"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3115\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5542,"href":"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3115\/revisions\/5542"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3116"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3115"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3115"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3115"},{"taxonomy":"topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftopic&post=3115"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}