Employers will now have to notify Toronto Public Health (TPH) as soon as they become aware that two or more people at their workplace tested positive for COVID-19 within a 14-day interval.
On January 4, 2021, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health released a Letter of Instruction to all employers permitted to be open under the Reopening Ontario Act. The letter lists additional measures to be followed to check the spread of COVID-19
Employees, too, must report any workplace situation that may put the health and safety of others at risk. For instance, if an employee tests positive for COVID-19 and was at the workplace while contagious, s/he must inform the employer as other co-workers may be infected.
Are there any other reporting requirements that employers must follow?
Employers must also:
Name a contact person
When employers notify TPH, they must also share the name and contact information for a designated person who can provide TPH with case details.
The contact person must be promptly available to communicate with TPH. They will also be responsible for carrying out any extra health and safety measures required by TPH.
Maintain contact information for all employees
Employers must have updated contact information, such as name, phone number, email address, for all workers. They must provide this information to TPH within 24 hours of notifying them of COVID-19 cases. TPH will use this information for contact management.
Notify other relevant government authorities
Employers must also inform the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training, and Skills Development and/or other relevant government authorities, such as WSIB.
Are there any precautions that employees must observe?
Employees must complete a health screening questionnaire before each shift. They must stay home and self-isolate if they:
- Experience new or worsening symptoms of COVID-19
- Have had close contact with a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19
- Have travelled outside of Canada in the past 14 days.
Disclosure of information on workplace outbreaks
The names of workplaces with COVID-19 outbreaks are being publicly posted on the City of Toronto’s Status of Cases in Toronto Dashboard.
This is to keep the public posted on where outbreaks are happening.
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