Long Term Care and Other Congregate Settings

If you have questions about an outbreak in your facility, or you think your facility is in an outbreak situation, you must notify Huron Perth Public Health. If you get a voicemail, press “0” and ask to be redirected to someone who can assist you.

If it is outside of business hours (8:30AM–4:30PM, Monday to Friday) please call our after-hours number1-800-431-2054. We will get back to you as soon as possible.

The IPAC (infection prevention and control) Hub was established in response to the Keeping Ontarians Safe: Preparing for Future Waves of COVID-19 initiative. The role of the IPAC Hub is to provide ongoing support, guidance and IPAC expertise to congregate living settings, including Long-Term Care Homes and retirement homes, directly.

The Huron Perth IPAC Hub is hosted by Huron Perth Public Health. Our services are available to all congregate settings in the Huron Perth area.

We Support

• Long-Term Care Homes
• Retirement Homes
• Residential settings funded by the Ministry of Health
• Residential settings for adults and children funded by Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS)
• Shelters; and
• Supportive Housing

Our Services

• Education and Training
• Communities of Practice
• Developing IPAC Programs, Policies and Procedures
• Supporting Assessments and Audits of IPAC Programs and/or Practices
• Providing Recommendations to Strengthen IPAC Programs and Practices
• Working with Public Health Partners and Congregate Living Organizations to Develop Outbreak Management Plans
• Providing Coaching/Mentoring of IPAC Service Delivery Within Settings
• Supporting Settings to Implement IPAC Recommendations

High-risk organizations are eligible to order free rapid antigen tests (RATs) through the Ontario Together portal.

Guidance is available on the provincial webpage, Safe handling and management of rapid antigen COVID-19 testing waste.

Information on how to order kit and test supplies is available on the Public Health Ontario webpage, Kit and test ordering instructions.

Expired kits initially received from Public Health Ontario (PHO) laboratory may be returned to your local PHO laboratory at your own cost.

Please ensure the container is clearly marked, Expired Kits for Disposal. You may also choose to dispose of expired kits in your own biohazard waste.

For kits received from the PPE Supply Portal, connect directly with Ontario Health at sco.supplies@ontario.ca for further client support or information if needed.

Personal protective equipment can be ordered online through the provincial PPE Supply Portal.

• Environmental Cleaning Performance Observation Audit [PDF] | Public Health Ontario
• IPAC Checklist for Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes [PDF] | Public Health Ontario
• IPAC Self-Assessment Audit for Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes [PDF] | Public Health Ontario
• Just Clean Your Hands - Long-Term Care | Public Health Ontario (see Monitoring and Observation Tools section)

• Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Systems in Buildings and COVID-19 [PDF] | Public Health Ontario 
• Orientation for Infection Prevention and Control Leads in Long-Term Care | Public Health Ontario
• PIDAC: Best Practices for Environmental Cleaning for Prevention and Control of Infections in All Health Care Settings [PDF] | Public Health Ontario
• PIDAC: Best Practices for Hand Hygiene in All Health Care Settings [PDF] | Public Health Ontario
• PIDAC: Best Practices for Surveillance of Health Care-associated Infections [PDF] | Public Health Ontario
• Prevention and Management of COVID-19 in Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes [PDF] | Public Health Ontario

• Recommendations for the Control of Gastroenteritis Outbreaks in Long-Term Care Homes [PDF] | Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
• General Test Requisition Form [PDF] | Public Health Ontario

• Control of Respiratory Infection Outbreaks in Long-Term Care Homes [PDF] | Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care

• Outbreak Preparedness, Prevention and Management in Congregate Living Settings [PDF] | Public Health Ontario

• Action IPAC: Activities to Support Infection Prevention and Control Practices in Congregate Living Settings [PDF] | Public Health Ontario
• Cohorting in Respiratory Virus Outbreaks [PDF] | Public Health Ontario
• Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Systems in Buildings and COVID-19 [PDF] | Public Health Ontario 
• Infection Prevention and Control Practices for Immunization Clinics [PDF] | Public Health Ontario

• PIDAC: Best Practices for Environmental Cleaning for Prevention and Control of Infections in All Health Care Settings [PDF] | Public Health Ontario
• Cohorting in Respiratory Virus Outbreaks [PDF] | Public Health Ontario
• IPAC Policies of Huron Perth & Area Ontario Health Team
• Routine Practices and Additional Precautions in All Health Care Settings [PDF] | Public Health Ontario
• Public Health Ontario Testing Requisitions
• Recommended Steps for Putting On and Taking Off Personal Protective Equipment [PDF] | Public Health Ontario
• Southwest IPAC Hub Spring 2024 Newsletter [PDF] | Southwest IPAC Hub (MLHU, HPPH and SWPH health units)
• Technical Brief: Interim IPAC Measures Based on Respiratory Virus Transmission Risk in Health Care Settings [PDF] | Public Health Ontario
• Technical Brief: IPAC Recommendations for Use of PPE for Care of Individuals with Suspect or Confirmed COVID-19 [PDF] | Public Health Ontario
• Your 4 Moments for Hand Hygiene [Signage] | Public Health Ontario