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Paramedic services team up for swab task force

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Haldimand and Norfolk County Paramedic Services have formed a task force to administer additional COVID-19 testing for vulnerable residents, those living in congregate settings and staff at long-term care homes.

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The task force was spearheaded by the Haldimand Norfolk Health Unit in response to new directives from Ontario’s chief medical officer of health and deputy ministers of health & long-term care.

The unified task force increases testing capacity at long-term care homes and enables vulnerable residents and seniors who live at home but cannot make it to a testing site to be tested at their own residence.

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A number of these residents are currently on a wait list for admission into long-term care homes, and testing is requirement.

A team of about a dozen paramedics received training to administer the swab tests. Screening of all residents and staff at long-term care facilities in both counties, symptomatic or not, is underway.

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The task force was formed in response to direction from the provincial government to test as many residents of long-term care facilities as possible to reduce COVID-19 transmission, better understand the prevalence of COVID-19 in long-term care homes and inform future planning.

Haldimand County Emergency Services is pleased to be part of this community safety and protection initiative,” said Jason Gallagher, Haldimand County’s fire chief and manager of emergency services. “We’ll continue to support the Health Unit and local healthcare providers until COVID-19 is no longer a threat to the health and well-being of our community.”

Sarah Page, Norfolk’s chief of paramedic services, said community paramedics are a “highly-trained group of individuals with deep experience in providing healthcare directly to those who need it most.”

“We’re proud to be playing a key role in helping Haldimand and Norfolk stop the spread of COVID-19, specifically among those most vulnerable to respiratory illness.”

Paramedic services in Haldimand and Norfolk counties have created a task force to administer COVID-19 screening to allow for increased testing of vulnerable residents and those in long-term care facilities. About a dozen paramedics received training to administer swab tests. (Contributed photo)
Paramedic services in Haldimand and Norfolk counties have created a task force to administer COVID-19 screening to allow for increased testing of vulnerable residents and those in long-term care facilities. About a dozen paramedics received training to administer swab tests. (Contributed photo) Contributed
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