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Congregate Living Settings

What is a Congregate Living Setting?

A Congregate Living Setting (CLS) is used to refer to congregate living settings other than LTCHs and RHs. This includes higher risk congregate living settings that fall under the definition of “institution” in subsection 21(1) of the HPPA. This also includes other congregate living settings in which individuals who may be at higher risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses.

Congregate living settings refer to a range of facilities where people (most or all of whom are not related) live or stay overnight and use shared spaces (e.g., common sleeping areas, bathrooms, kitchens). Examples of congregate living settings may include long-term residential facilities, group homes, foster homes, and assisted living facilities.

  • Healthcare services delivered in these settings should be informed by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care guidance documents.
  • Facilities should assess the unique risks of their setting and the populations they serve and use enhanced COVID-19 prevention strategies and resources, described below, to help reduce the impact of respiratory or enteric illnesses.

Congregate Living Settings play a vital role in managing and controlling outbreaks within their facilities. Your facility has a duty and responsibility to implement necessary measures to safeguard the health and well-being of residents and staff. The information on this page is meant to provide you with resources for managing respiratory and gastroenteritis (enteric) cases and outbreaks.

The following documents may be used to help guide the prevention and control of respiratory (including COVID-19) and enteric outbreaks that occur in your CLS.

Outbreak Preparedness, Prevention and Management in Congregate Living Settings

Infectious Diseases Protocol - Ontario Public Health Standards - Programs and Services - Health Care Professionals - MOH (gov.on.ca) - Provincial surveillance case definitions for all diseases of public health significance & disease-specific direction for the public health management of all diseases of public health significance 

The following guidance may be used to guide respiratory outbreaks in CLSs.

The following guidance may be used to guide enteric outbreaks in a CLS.

The line list may be used to track cases of infectious diseases.

CLS Line list for Staff and Residents - Form to provide specific information of all positive or probable cases within staff and residents

Employer provided housing for agri-food/international agriculture workers (IAW)

Join IPAC Community of Practice via Royal Victoria Hospital at 705-728-9090 ext. 44550.

The IPAC Hubs can assist CLSs with IPAC related issues including outbreaks. They cover different areas of Simcoe Muskoka. To get assistance with IPAC related issues contact your local IPAC Hub (see table below for contact information).

 IPAC HubContact InformationCoverage Areas
OSMH IPAC Hub705-325-2201 ext. 0 ask for infection control

Orillia

Muskoka (including Huntsville, Bracebridge, and Gravenhurst)

RVH North Central IPAC Hub

705-728-9090 ext. 44550

[email protected]

IPAC Hub - Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (rvh.on.ca)

Barrie

North Simcoe (including Collingwood, Midland, Penetanguishene)

South Simcoe (including Bradford and Alliston)

CLS facilities are responsible for maintaining a supply of PPE and rapid antigen tests. Any concerns regarding access to PPE or rapid antigen test supply, facility may reach out to [email protected] and [email protected] in order to be set up with the new portal so they can continue ordering supplies. CLS facilities affiliated with MCCSS or MOH may also reach out to their respective ministries for help with PPE and/or rapid antigen shortages.  

PPE Supply Portal - Sign In (ontario.ca)
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