Rapid Tests For COVID 19 Screening In The Workplace FINAL 03092021

Rapid Tests for COVID-19 Screening in the Workplace March 2021 11 Agenda 1.Background on rapid testing 2.New initiative to increase availability of rapid tests for workplace screening 3.Next steps 4.Questions and answers 2 Goal Dramatically increase regular rapid screening in workplaces across Canada to reduce transmission and outbreaks Current Status •The Government of Canada has purchased over 40M point of care tests and distributed over half to provinces and territories. Most of these tests have been deployed in long-term care facilities, schools or for outbreak management •The Government of Canada is putting in place additional contracts with vendors for additional supply of rapid screening kits to meet Canada’s public health needs •Acceleration and expansion of the deployment of rapid tests for Covidscreening was recommended by experts as captured in the Testing and Screening Expert Panel’s first report, the Industry Advisory Roundtable on COVID-19 Testing, Screening, Tracing and Data Management, and PHAC’s Interim Guidance on the Use of Rapid Antigen Detection Tests •Workplace screening has been extensively piloted by organizations in several provinces •Some provinces have released guidance regarding screening and who can administer a test, with Ontario recently authorizing self-collection 33 The benefits of rapid COVID-19 screening It helps in general to: •Defend against COVID-19 as an extra layer of protection with other public health measures It helps organizations to: •Better protect their employees •Better protect their customers / clients •Contribute to community safety by reducing community spread •Facilitate a safer return to increased social and economic activity 44 How does the initiative work in the early phase? •The Government of Canadawill: •work with industry associations to prioritize intake organizations •supply rapid screening tests at no cost (tests mayalso be available from relevant provinces and territories) •Organizationswill be responsible for: osetting up rapid screening program ocoordinating employees to be screened oadministering screening ocollecting and reporting on usage data ofollowing all relevant local/provincial/territorial public health regulations and guidance Step-by-step rapid screening program implementation booklets are available from Communitechand Creative Destruction Lab 55 How will workplaces be assessed for suitability? In early stages, will need to prioritize participants as supply and programs ramp High-contact workers are those employees whose roles fundamentally involve significant numbers of close interactions fellow employees, customers Organizations that are prepared to implement screening and scale to their employee bases High contact workersOrganizational readiness Critical industries are those deemed essential services and functions by Public Safety Canada (Source) Critical industries Additionally, will consider geographic hot spots, the diversity across geographies and sectors (for-profit and non-profit) and benefits for vulnerable populations (e.g., Indigenous groups) Focus will be on national organizations best supplied federally vs. from multiple provinces, or organizations unable to secure supply from relevant province/territory 66 Identify Human Resources requirements (program coordinator, testing personnel, etc.) Develop communications plan for roll-out and engage employees Procure necessary PPE and sanitation supplies for testing personnel (masks, face shields, etc.) Consult local public health regulations and other requirements (e.g., who can administer tests) Establish data infrastructure (for reporting, security, privacy) Rapid screening implementation considerations Non-exhaustive –for discussion purposes only 77 Next steps •Associationswill work with members to identify organizations that meet the early phase prioritization criteria •Associations are asked to collate information and provide to Government of Canada •Government of Canada will contact organizations •In the meantime, organizationsare encouraged to: oleverage the collective resource available on the Government of Canada website ounderstand relevant local,provincial and territorial public health regulations oreview implementation booklet and standard operation procedures suchas thoseby Communitech and the Creative Destruction Lab Rapid Screening Consortiumto understand what is entailed in setting up a screening program 88 •Number of critical workers in high-contact settings that will be screened •Nature of workers to be screened (in terms of their level of contact, their criticality, vulnerability, etc.) •Locations at which screening will occur •Requested number of kits for first month •Confirmation that arrangements have been made for kit administration •Confirmation that the requesting organization is not receiving the kits from relevant provincial or territorial governments Information required to support requests 9 Moving forward •As the supply of tests increases, organizations may be able to order directly from vendors •Screening continues toadd an additionallayer of protection in addition to vaccinations, PPE, etc. •New technologies on the horizon may facilitate self- administered / home kits and potentially reduce the costs of regular testing 1010 •Questions and Answers Thank You