COVID-19 UPDATE #9

27 May 2020

AMENDMENTS TO DIRECTIVE #2 FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS

Last evening, the Chief Medical Officer of Ontario (CMOH) released amendments to Directive #2 for Health Care Providers (Regulated Health Professionals or Persons who operate a Group Practice of Regulated Health Professionals) Click Here. In essence, those amendments authorize all regulated health professionals to gradually return to full practice, including the delivery of "all deferred and non-essential and elective services". Which services should be provided, which should continue to be provided remotely and which services can be provided in-person are left to the judgement of the healthcare professional on a case-by-case basis.

The amendments to the Directive make it abundantly clear that practitioners may return to practice only if they can fully comply with all screening and infection controls set out in COVID-19 Operational Requirements: Health Sector Restart Click Here. The College of Opticians issued its own guidance Click Here for return to full practice and members should monitor the College's website, read all communications from the College and act accordingly.

This has been a long and sometimes frustrating journey and I congratulate our members on their patience and forbearance.

I know that all OOA members will act responsibly in the best interests of our clients and staff as we return to full practice and I wish you all the very best.

Stay safe.