KFL&A public health reports three COVID-19 offences in August
Kingston Frontenac Lennox & Addington (KFL&A) public health is continuing to monitor local establishments for compliance with COVID-19 prevention measures.
In the month of August, only two personal service establishments received tickets. This is a significant drop compared to earlier in summer, when nine different nail salons were ticketed between Thursday, Jun. 25 and Monday, Jul. 13, 2020.
The August tickets were issued to LAN Nail and Spa, for failing to obtain contact information from a client; and, Generations Barber Shop, for infractions related to personal protective equipment (PPE). Both violations were recorded on Friday, Aug. 7, 2020.
Sharbot Lake Retirement Ltd. was also flagged for enforcement on Wednesday, Aug. 26. 2020. According to public health, the inspector clarified compliance standards for following areas under COVID-19 Directive 3 for Long-Term Care Homes under the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007:
- Post and use most up to date screening tool for visitors, residents and staff.
- The screener must wear, at minimum a mask, eye protection, gown and gloves or just a mask and remain behind a plexiglass partition.
- Universal masking is required of all staff.
- Physical distancing of residents.
- New admissions must be placed on contact and droplet precautions for 14 days.
“These priority areas were clarified so that appropriate steps will be taken to achieve compliance with the current directives and regulations,” said KFL&A public health.
This is the fifth long-term care or retirement facility in the KFL&A area enforced for infractions related to COVID-19.
Public Health’s COVID-19 precautions
KFL&A Public Health announced a stepped up approach to inspections and enforcement during the COVID-19 pandemic in June. On Thursday, June 25, 2020 KFL&A public health announced a COVID-19 outbreak originating at a local nail salon. The outbreak lasted until Friday, Jul. 17, resulted in 37 infections and zero deaths.
Long-term care facilities are also considered higher risk environments for outbreaks of infectious disease. The first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, starting in March, hit long-term care facilities particularly hard. By Monday, May 25, 2020, 80 percent of COVID-19 death occurred in connection to outbreaks in long-term care facilities, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information.
Public Health’s COVID-19 prevention checklists for personal service settings is available on their website.