COVID-19: Infection prevention and control for harm reduction workers in Ontario

Harm reduction workers provide essential services for people who use drugs and are still working closely with clients during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, doing outreach, distributing harm reduction supplies and reversing overdoses. Workers must take additional precautions to protect themselves and their clients from COVID-19.

This webinar will cover infection prevention and control practices, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), for people working in harm reduction in Ontario. This webinar will also:

• Clarify infection prevention and control recommendations from Public Health Ontario on PPE
• Share updates on provincial guidance for Consumption and Treatment Services (CTS) sites
• Share practices from frontline agencies on how they’ve modified their practice during the pandemic
• Provide updates on ordering harm reduction supplies from the Ontario Harm Reduction Distribution Program

Moderator: Chris Hoy, Knowledge Specialist, CATIE

Speakers:

• Dr. Gary Garber, Medical Director, Infection Prevention and Control, Public Health Ontario
• Nadia Zurba, Program Manager, Ontario Harm Reduction Distribution Program
• Megan Van Boheemen, Manager, Carepoint Program, Regional HIV/AIDS Connection
• Sonja Burke, Director, Harm Reduction Services, Regional HIV/AIDS Connection
• Chris Harold, Manager, Addiction and Substances Policy and Programs, Ontario Ministry of Health

This webinar is presented in partnership with the Ontario Harm Reduction Network and the Ontario Harm Reduction Distribution Program. In Ontario, CATIE has received additional funding to support frontline hepatitis C service providers. 

Powerpoint/PDF File: 

covid19-ipc-ontario-04222020b.pdf