Over the past number of weeks, SUN members have responded in overwhelming numbers to a call to fill shifts in Lloydminster and La Loche while those facilities were in COVID-19 outbreak (“outbreak facility”). It became apparent that SUN members were receiving mixed messages on the requirement to self-isolate or not work in another health facility if they did fill a need in an outbreak facility.
SUN has worked hard to answer members' questions and on May 11, 2020, SUN received clarification from the SHA Executive Director of Labour Relations, Kevin Zimmerman and SHA Senior Medical Health Officer, Dr. Julie Kryzanowski.
Provided a SUN member is wearing proper PPE, (which must be made available to them by the employer) they are not considered to be in close contact with a COVID-19-positive patient, whether or not the facility is on outbreak status, and no self-isolation is required. The SUN member is only required to self-monitor and complete the daily screening when working.
If the SUN member was not wearing proper PPE, (which could happen in the case of an asymptomatic patient who has not been tested for COVID-19, or has tested negative, or if a breach of proper PPE occurs while providing care to a COVID-19-positive patient) the SUN member would be considered to be in close contact and required to self-isolate for 14 days, during which they would not be entitled to work and would be compensated for scheduled shifts.
When a health facility has been declared to be on outbreak, a medical health officer may order that staff be cohorted during the outbreak. An order for cohorting during an outbreak does not mean that a SUN member cannot return to their home position after working shifts in the outbreak facility (provided proper PPE is used) but it does mean that the SUN member cannot go back and forth between shifts at an outbreak facility and a non-outbreak facility.
Examples:
Permitted during outbreak cohorting
XYZ works Mon./Tues. in outbreak facility
XYZ works Thurs. in non-outbreak facility
Not permitted during outbreak cohorting
XYZ works Mon./Tues. in outbreak facility
XYZ works Thurs. in non-outbreak facility
XYZ works Sat. in outbreak facility
**the SUN member would be cohorted to only work in the outbreak facility
SUN members who are considering picking up COVID-19 shifts, or who are redeployed to another facility due to COVID-19 should make sure they have a full understanding of the effects working in the other facility will have on their ability to continue working in their home position(s).
