Minutes - March 26, 2020 - Board of Health Meeting

Members Present:

(via teleconference)

Ms. Maureen Cassidy (Chair)
Ms. Aina DeViet (Vice-Chair)
Mr. John Brennan
Ms. Kelly Elliott
Ms. Tino Kasi
Mr. Bob Parker
Mr. Ian Peer
Mr. Matt Reid

Regrets: Ms. Arielle Kayabaga

Others Present:

 (via teleconference)

Dr. Christopher Mackie, Medical Officer of Health/CEO (Secretary Treasurer)
Ms. Lynn Guy, Executive Assistant (Recorder)
Mr. Dan Flaherty, Manager, Communications
Mr. Alex Tyml, Online Communications Coordinator
Dr. Alexander Summers, Associate Medical Officer of Health
Ms. Laura Di Cesare, Director, Healthy Organization
Ms. Heather Lokko, Director, Healthy Start
Ms. Maureen Rowlands, Director, Healthy Living
Mr. Stephen Turner, Director, Environmental Health and Infectious Disease

Chair Cassidy called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

Disclosures of Conflict(s) of Interest

Chair Cassidy inquired if there were any disclosures of conflicts of interest. None were declared.

Approval of Agenda

It was moved by Ms. De Viet, seconded by Mr. Reid, that the AGENDA for the March 26, 2020 Board of Health meeting be approved. Carried

Business

VERBAL UPDATES:

1. COVID-19
a. Prioritizing of programs and redeployment of MLHU Staff

Dr. Mackie was first to talk to this update.
He noted that in the last 3 weeks, cases have increased considerably. Recognizing that all programs and services are important and essential, the Health Unit needed to look at how to reorganize and reprioritize the work, as well as redeploy staff.

The work that needs to continue but with some modifications includes:

• Rabies work – Investigations
• Reportable diseases and case management
• Inspections – including migrant farm locations, scale to what businesses are open
• Tobacco enforcement
• High risk home visits
• Quit clinic
• Prep Clinic – specialized clinic
• Dental - clinical emergency service for children
• Travel clinic – by appointment
• birth control – by appointment
• STI Clinic – by appointment
• TB treatment – by video

Dr. Summers provided an update on the IMS structure, which is a substantive reorganization of Health Unit staff to allow staff to better respond to the work around COVID-19 and the 20 local cases that have been reported. The Health Unit has moved to a 7 day a week structure to focus on the COVID-19 response.

The IMS structure consists of the following 7 main lead sections:

• Incident Command – Dr. Alex Summers
• Planning – Ms. Alison Locker
• Operations – Ms. Mary Lou Albanese
• Logistics – Ms. Nicole Gauthier
• Communications – Mr. Dan Flaherty
• Liaison – Mr. Steve Turner
• Safety – Ms. Lilka Young

Dr. Summers provided additional details in respect to the breakdown of each section and the work that is done within those sections. He also noted that the staff within the IMS structure have changed to better meet needs throughout the teams.

Some staff have moved to shift work and additional managers were required to manage these new shifts.

Discussion ensued in regard to the following:

How are staff coping? – There has been mixed reaction. Change is difficult, and while there have been feelings of frustration, dealing with unreasonable expectations in the community, screening procedures, personal proactive equipment requirements, redeployment, most staff are engaged in meaningful work, focused on task, and working hard. Many staff are working remotely.

Has MLHU completely moved to Citi Plaza? – Yes, the Health Unit has moved. The clinics are closed this week to set up. Everything is coming along really well.

How are staff coping with stress and is there a way to check in to see how they’re doing? – There are many opportunities for staff to check in, and for managers to reach out to staff. Concerns that are brought forward are dealt with in a timely manner. Staff who are working primarily on-site can easily check in with Managers and other staff, redeployed staff have many opportunities as well. Some staff have expressed a feeling of positive connection and unity within the Health Unit and hope that it will continue after COVID-19 is resolved.

b. Progress on the Local Response

Dr. Summers noted that as of today there are 20 confirmed cases. Not all were travel related.

Within the Health Unit, active screening has begun as has a review of health and safety needs for staff.

To stop the spread in the community, public health interventions have been begun, such as school closings, restaurant closings, play grounds etc.
Social media, local partners have played an instrumental role.
Health Unit staff are providing aggressive case and contact management for each COVID-19 case.

In partnerships with hospitals, 2 assessment centres have opened. One is located at Oakridge Arena and the other is at Carling Heights.
More testing swabs have been obtained so more testing is occurring and new testing sites have opened.

Dr. Summers advised that over the next little while it will be important to continue – physical distancing, aggressive case and contact management and closely look at how things are trending.

Discussion ensued in regard to the following:

It is too soon to tell how long this will last but physical distancing is helping.

If people continue to take this seriously, this area could see cresting in the next few weeks.

Now that more testing equipment has been found, the assessment centre can test and have identified positive cases.

Dr. Mackie noted that interesting opportunities have been developing through electronic systems. One such system was developed by Health Unit staff for case and contact management. It is now being used at other health units and will soon be offered to others.

The Health Unit is also working with partners on a provincial resource to monitor returning travelers on a daily basis. This could include approximately 13,000 people. The use of a robo-call system is being investigated to assist with daily contact required for the returning travelers. To assist with COVID-19 work, Western University has offered the use of 3rd and 4th year medical students.

For Primary Care Physicians – The Input Health System in SW Ontario allows real time quick glance at how to manage patients and can be updated in real time. The Ontario Health Team is leading and has asked MLHU to assist with the tool.

Dr. Mackie noted that having better information from border agents would help. Having a list of returning travelers would be good so that public health could begin follow-ups as soon as possible.
Dr. Summers reiterated that internal capacity has been found through the reorganization and streamlining of services.

Chair Cassidy stated that to say staff have risen to the occasion is an understatement. She asked that Dr. Mackie and Dr. Summers thank staff.

It was moved by Mr. Peer, seconded by Ms. Elliott, that the Board of Health receive the verbal updates from Dr. Mackie and Dr. Summers on COVID-19 for information. Carried

Confidential

At 6:48 p.m., it was moved by Ms. DeViet, seconded by Mr. Reid, that the Board of Health move in-camera to consider matters regarding a trade secret or financial information, supplied in confidence to the local board, which if disclosed, could reasonably be expected to prejudice significantly the competitive position or interfere significantly with contractual or other negotiations of a person, group of persons or organization, and a trade secret or financial information that belongs to the municipality or local board and has monetary value. Carried

At 6:57 p.m., the Board of Health returned to public session.

Adjournment

At 6:57 p.m., it was moved by Mr. Reid, seconded by Mr. Parker, that the meeting be adjourned. Carried

MAUREEN CASSIDY
Chair

CHRISTOPHER MACKIE

Secretary-Treasurer