Originally published on April 01, 2021
[Update: Provincial Emergency and Stay-at-Home Order Effective April 8, 2021]
Today on April 7, 2021, the Government of Ontario declared a third
provincial emergency under s 7.0.1 (1) of the
Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act. These measures are being taken in response to the rapid increase in COVID-19 transmission, the threat on the province's hospital system capacity, and the increasing risks posed to the public by COVID-19 variants.
Effective Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 12:01 a.m., Ontario is issuing a stay-at-home order requiring everyone to remain at home with exceptions for essential purposes, such as going to the grocery store or pharmacy, accessing health care services (including getting vaccinated), for exercise close to home and with the people you live with, or for work that cannot be done remotely.
You can learn more about the stay-at-home order on the
Ontario government website.
What this means for occupational therapists
This has been, and continues to be, a challenging time. We thank all registrants for their continued commitment to the delivery of safe, ethical occupational therapy services. Your professionalism and dedication are appreciated.
No further restrictions on occupational therapy practice have been announced to date. Occupational therapists and other regulated health professionals may continue to operate, consistent with current guidelines for regulated health professionals.
View the College's Return to Work Guidance for OTs.
Occupational therapists are reminded to continue to adhere to requirements of provincial
Directive 2 and the accompanying
COVID-19 Operational Requirements: Health Sector Restart for guiding principles when making decisions about service delivery. Directive 2 requires that health care providers continue to monitor COVID-19 spread in their community and when choosing service delivery models (in-person, virtual or modified services). To obtain this information, occupational therapists can use data sources including:
As a reminder, virtual services are recommended when appropriate. If in-person services are required, occupational therapists need to wear proper personal protective equipment (PPE) at all times. Continued adherence with all public health measures, including handwashing, masking and physical distancing, is expected when at work and in the community.
Vaccine Information and Resources
Reminder: The College continues to work with Ontario’s Public Health Units to share information regarding vaccination for COVID-19.
Please check your local Public Health Unit's website for information about vaccine distribution plans.
Find your local public health unit or check the "
Vaccine Information" section of
our COVID-19 page for COVID-19 vaccination information in your region. Vaccine safety and education resources are also listed.
To avoid missing important updates from the College, please ensure your email is accurate.
Log in to your member profile to update your information.
If you have any questions, please contact our Practice team at
[email protected] or 1-800-890-6570 ext 240.
You can always visit our
COVID-19 web page for additional resources and information or contact your local public health unit for specific details about COVID-19 management in your community. Please continue to check the
Ministry of Health website for the most current COVID-19 guidance and information.