Updated August 26, 2021

Ministry of Health announces vaccination policies for certain sectors

On August 17, 2021, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health issued Directive 6, mandating hospitals and home and community care service providers to have a COVID-19 vaccination policy for employees, staff, contractors, students and volunteers. Also, ambulance services must have a COVID-19 vaccination policy for paramedics. The vaccination policy must be effective no later than September 7, 2021, and at a minimum will require these individuals to provide proof of one of three things:

• Full vaccination against COVID-19;
• A medical reason for not being vaccinated against COVID-19; or
• Completion of a COVID-19 vaccination educational session.

RMTs can find more information about this new directive in the Resource Guide to Directive 6. According to the guide, organizations that are covered under Directive 6 are responsible for implementing mandatory vaccination policies. RMTs who work with, or for organizations covered under Directive 6 are encouraged to speak with administrators of the organization directly about these changes.

CMTO will continue to monitor the government’s COVID-19 guidance and will provide updates as needed.

Public health and workplace safety measures remain in place

Today the Government of Ontario announced that it is pausing the province’s exit from the Roadmap to Reopen and will remain in Step 3 until further notice. RMTs are reminded that all requirements for practice during the pandemic remain in place, including use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other infection prevention and control (IPAC) measures. RMTs must continue to follow the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 Operational Requirements: Health Sector Restart and CMTO’s COVID-19 Practice Guidance for Massage Therapists, conduct risk assessments before every treatment, and practice in line with CMTO’s Code of Ethics.