Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Anishinabek Nation
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Bulletin No. 04
Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Bulletin to Ontario First Nations
March 23, 2020
First Nations and Inuit Health Branch ON Region
UPDATE
COVID-19 continues to rapidly evolve in Ontario. Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), along
with Public Health Ontario and the Ministry of Health, is closely monitoring the outbreak,
conducting surveillance and appropriate laboratory testing, and providing public health
and infection control guidance.
COVID-19 FIRST NATIONS COMMUNITY GUIDE ON ACCESSING
ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS AND ONTARIO REQUEST FORM
This guide was sent on Friday March 20. We have updated the request form to be in a
format that you can complete online. The process was outlined as follows:
1. Review the COVID-19: First Nations Community Guide on Accessing Additional Supports
2. Complete the Ontario Region Proposal Request Form
with your requirements as you know them at this time Medical or Health
and forecasted, if you can.
Information
3. Send the form to Emergency Management Ontario
email inbox: aadnc.emergencyon-
urgenceon.aandc@canada.ca For medical or health
information, please contact your
4. Acknowledgement of your request will be sent back to
local health care provider or
you within 48 hours.
Telehealth Ontario at
5. Once the review committee has assessed the requests, 1-866-797-0000.
you will receive an email confirming what has been
approved. An email response will be required from the For medical emergencies,
Chief, Executive Director or equivalent authorized
immediately call 911.
official. This email must be copied to all members of
your Council or your Board, and confirm acceptance of
the following:
a. the funding for the activities outlined in the approved request; and
b. amendment to your Funding Agreement to include the COVID-19 funding, activities and
any required reporting.
6. Funding approvals will be actioned on receipt of the Confirmation of Acceptance email from
the Chief, Executive Director or equivalent authorized official.
7. Priority cheque runs will be processed daily to expedite the flow of funding.
If you have any comments on the process, please contact the Emergency Management Ontario’s email inbox at aadnc.emergencyon-urgenceon.aandc@canada.ca. MARCH 20, 2020 CHIEFS CALL - Q&As The list of Q&As was distributed the afternoon of March 20, 2020. If you haven’t received them or have additional questions, please contact First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB), Ontario Region, at sac.covid-19fnihbontario.isc@canada.ca. The calls with ON Chiefs will continue weekly (unless otherwise notified) on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 4pm Eastern Standard time/ 3pm Central time. ACCOMMODATION FOR EXPIRING STATUS CARDS Individuals can continue to access benefits, even with an expired card. Benefits are based on an individual’s Registration Number regardless of the date of expiry. Expiry dates are a measure put in place to keep card photos current. Medical service providers and pharmacies can confirm an individual’s eligibility for benefits by contacting Non-Insured Health Benefits General Inquiries at 1-800-640-0642. COVID-19 SCAMS, PRICE GOUGING AND MISINFORMATION Communities are encouraged to stay on high alert for COVID-19 scams, price gouging efforts by third-party retailers and by online misinformation. Difficulties with supply chains and limited stock should not be addressed by resorting to inflated online offers. Communities should also be on high alert for counterfeit test kits and available treatments. Should you have any questions, please contact FNIHB Ontario Region at sac.covid- 19fnihbontario.isc@canada.ca. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND LATE OR DELAYED COMMUNITY REPORTS Effective immediately, ISC has removed all funding halts from current contribution agreements. In order to ensure a rapid transfer of funds, these conditions will remain in place for the foreseeable future. Reporting requirements will be communicated once the COVID-19 situation becomes clearer in the future months. COVID-19 Weekly Bulletin FNIHB ON Region: March 23, 2020 2
AVAILABLE HELPLINES If you are experiencing feelings of anxiety, are overwhelmed, or if you are in crisis and would like talk to someone, emotional support is available for all Indigenous People living in Canada. Call the Hope for Wellness Help Line at 1-855-242-3310 or chat online at: hopeforwellness.ca Contact Crisis Services Canada anytime day or night at 1-833-456-4566 or text “Start” to 45645 between 4:00pm and midnight EST. Kids Help Phone is also available at 1- 800-668-6868 or text “connect” to 686868 to speak to a live counsellor. If you need specific COVID-19 information, please visit http://canada.ca/coronavirus FIRST NATIONS HEALTH MANAGERS ASSOCIATION COVID-19 TOWN HALL INFORMATION SESSION March 25, 2020, from 1:00pm to 2:00pm EST First Nations Health Managers Association (FNHMA) has partnered with ISC to offer a live- stream Town Hall session regarding the current COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Tom Wong, Executive Director and Chief Medical Health Officer of Public Health, Indigenous Services Canada, and Valerie Gideon, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister of First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Indigenous Services Canada, will provide information and answer any questions about the COVID-19 virus. The live-stream event will be hosted on the Indigenous Health Today website (http://www.ihtoday.ca). Tune in to hear important information and have your questions answered. REMINDER Communities should include their Name and Organization / First Nation in the Fax Subject Line when requesting Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to ensure clarity during these busy times. COVID-19 Weekly Bulletin FNIHB ON Region: March 23, 2020 3
NON-INSURED HEALTH BENEFITS
It remains the priority of the Ontario Region Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program
to ensure service delivery to our clients and service providers to the best of our ability
during this exceptional time.
Please be assured that advance business continuity planning was undertaken to anticipate
and plan for challenges that could result from COVID-19. This bulletin will serve as an
operational update regarding the steps that have been taken to ensure continued service.
Where operationally possible, NIHB staff are working to deliver service from remote
locations. Where required, some limited staff continue to access the workplace to assist
with scanning of hard-copy documents and to assist remote workers with accessing
material to continue their work functions.
Phone messaging on NIHB phone lines has been updated to provide clients and service
providers with alternative options for contacting all three NIHB offices (Ottawa, Thunder
Bay and Sioux Lookout).
Toll-free telephone lines continue to be answered. Functions surrounding the prior
approval of non-insured health benefits and the payment of vendor invoices continue.
Best attempts are being made to process requests in a timely manner, however we ask for
and appreciate your patience should delays occur.
NIHB medical transportation Benefit Analysts are taking instruction from health-care
professionals and clients to cancel or reschedule medical travel. NIHB is not restricting
patient travel; we do recommend however that individuals consult their health-care
professional or community health team if they have questions regarding whether they
should or should not travel to medical appointments.
For more information, please call one of the FNIHB Ontario Region NIHB contacts:
Heather Larsen Patricia Villeneuve
Senior Manager, Program Delivery A/Manager, NIHB Operations
Ontario Regional Office Ontario Regional Office
heather.larsen@canada.ca patricia.Villeneuve@canada.ca
Jeanet Pierce Cynthia Lucier
Supervisor, Sioux Lookout Manager, Sioux Lookout Zone
Jeanet.pierce@Canada.ca cynthia.lucier@canada.ca
Shelley Hakala Toll-Free Fax
Supervisor, Thunder Bay Zone Ottawa: 1-800-806-6662
Shelley.Hakala@Canada.ca Thunder Bay: 1-866-551-5650
Sioux Lookout: 1-807-7373879
Ontario Region Client Information Line
1-800-640-0642
COVID-19 Weekly Bulletin FNIHB ON Region: March 23, 2020 4FOR UPDATES AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Public Health Agency of Canada – 2019 novel coronavirus: Outbreak update https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus- infection.html PHAC - Risk-informed decision-making for mass gatherings during COVID-19 global outbreak https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel- coronavirus-infection/health-professionals/mass-gatherings-risk-assesment.html Ministry of Health Ontario - https://www.ontario.ca/page/2019-novel-coronavirus World Health Organization – Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus- infection.html Indigenous Services Canada COVID-19 Updates available in several languages – https://www.gotoinfo.ca/ISCInfo Public Health Guidance for schools (K-12) and childcare programs – https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus- infection/health-professional/guidance-schools-childcare-programs.html Previous information bulletins and additional information and resources for health staff can be found at Onehealth.ca COVID-19 Weekly Bulletin FNIHB ON Region: March 23, 2020 5
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