Good Afternoon:
Firstly, we would like to thank each one of you for your patience and understanding with helping all of us to stay safe and healthy. These are extremely challenging times, with rapidly changing information.
As we prepare for the “Stay at Home” orders to be lifted on February 16th, we are re-establishing our Visitor Policy. We are still unsure of the color-code for the Covid-19 Response Framework for Niagara so details will follow if any further changes are required. For now, we will welcome all Essential Visitors as noted on file, on a limited basis, with a few extra precautions:
• Visits will be permitted, once per week, based on availability; to keep this fair for all families, you cannot pre-book for several weeks in a row.
• Proof of a NEGATIVE COVID-19 test is required, bi-weekly. This can be arranged through the local Public Health Unit or at a designated Shoppers Drug Mart by following the link provided, https://www1.shoppersdrugmart.ca/en/health-and-pharmacy/covid-19
• Visitors must pass screening at the door; all visitors MUST enter through 300 Elgin Street. If visiting Residents in the Garden Terrace, you must first screen at 300 Elgin Street; no exceptions.
• You are required to wear a medical mask with eye protection i.e., a full visor or goggles. Masks MUST remain on for the duration of your visit. You can remove your PPE only when you exit the building. For this reason, Food and Drinks are NOT permitted to be brought in at this time.
Any visitors found violating our Visiting Protocol will be asked to leave and will be restricted from further visits.*
You can book your appointment with proof of a negative Covid-19 test, via email: office@portalvillage.com or by calling us at 905-834-0322.
Many of you have been asking about the vaccine. Unfortunately, we do not have any further information, despite repeated inquiries to various sources.
Yesterday, we were involved in a Town Hall session with General (Retired) Hillier amongst others as part of the Covid-19 Vaccination Roll Out. They admitted that the low vaccine rate is a result of the lack of vaccine available. They were extremely optimistic that we would see an improved influx of vaccine to the area over the next several weeks. At this time, we are being advised that our Residents may be vaccinated before the end of winter. Staff and Essential Caregivers have not been included in this plan. The only Retirement Homes that have been vaccinated at this time have had positive Covid-19 cases.
We encourage you to email Jeff Burch, MPP or Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for vaccine advocacy &information. Their contact information is attached below:
JBurch-QP@ndp.on.ca
sam.oosterhoffco@pc.ola.org
If you have any other comments, we appreciate hearing from you.
We are hopeful that by the end of the year, we will be back to normal and able to resume our regular daily events and we will all be able to see each other in person. Until then, stay safe and take care.
Tracey Dewar
