Even as more COVID restrictions are being lifted across Ontario this week, officials at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance have no plans to change the hospital’s vaccine policy.
CEO Lori Marshall says provincial policy changes don’t affect the current vaccination requirements at CKHA, which include COVID-19 among other inoculations.
“At this stage, the hospital will be continuing with its policy that requires all staff and physicians and volunteers to be fully vaccinated, which is interpreted to be two doses of vaccine,” Marshall says. “That also applies for any new hires in the organization.”
Under the hospital’s Essential Visitor and Care Partner Access policy, all visitors and care partners entering both the Chatham and Wallaceburg sites will have to provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination and/or a negative PCR or rapid antigen test with limited exceptions.
From a municipal standpoint, Chatham-Kent officials are taking a little more time to reassess the COVID situation in the community.
Chief Administrative Officer Don Shropshire says current COVID protocols for municipal staff will remain in place through the end of March.
“As much as things are relaxing, this is still real and we’re still making sure we can maintain essential services,” Shropshire explains. “We’re looking at a little bit of a slower migration as the rules allow for as an employer. By the end of March, hopefully we’ll continue to have a positive trend in terms of the number of cases decreasing and we’ll be in a position where we can enjoy more relaxed protocols.”
During a media update late last week, Shropshire said there were still 47 staff under COVID protocols after either testing positive for the virus or isolating due to close contact.
