COVID-19 Information

Please do not visit the Centre without an appointment

If you require care, please call our Centre. Your call will be triaged to determine if you require an office visit, video visit or phone visit. Due to COVID-19, at this time there is limited availability for in-person appointments.

The health of clients and staff is our priority. All visitors to East End Community Health Centre will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms before entering the building. Please use the front entrance on Queen Street. The side entrance on Coxwell is closed.

All in-person group activities are cancelled until further notice.

Health care providers may call from a “blocked” number – please answer.

If you are concerned that you may have been exposed to, or are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, please start by visiting the Ministry of Health website and taking their self-assessment. If you are sick with mild cold or flu symptoms, you do not need to come into the clinic to be seen. You should stay home until your symptoms have resolved. If you have questions or concerns please call and ask to speak with one of our team.

East End Community Health Centre is not providing COVID-19 testing to the general public.

The closest COVID-19 Assessment Centre is located at Michael Garron Hospital.

Information about other COVID-19 Assessment Centres in Toronto is available at the following link: https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-health-advice/covid-19-assessment-centres/

To ensure that anyone in need of care can receive it, the Ontario Ministry of Health is waiving the three-month waiting period for Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) coverage. Additionally, the province will cover the cost of COVID-19 services for uninsured people who do not meet the criteria for OHIP coverage. Together, these measures will ensure that no one will be discouraged from seeking screening or treatment for COVID-19 for financial reasons.

Current Appointment Practices

1. Please don't arrive early for appointments as we want as few people in waiting room as possible
2. don't wear gloves inside the centre, hand sanitize instead
3. don't bring another person with you to the appointment unless absolutely necessary and if possible have them wait outside
4. please don't enter the vestibule if someone is already there. Wait until they move into waiting room.

COVID-19 is placing stress on Canada's public health system. Our health service is starting to offer virtual care to make sure that we can continue to care for our patients safely and effectively. This means that we will be using video and audio technologies for some patient visits rather than asking all patients to come into our office. We do our best to make sure that any information you give to us during virtual care visits is private and secure, but no video or audio tools are ever completely secure. There is an increased security risk that your health information may be intercepted or disclosed to third parties when using video or audio communications tools. To help us keep your information safe and secure, you can:

● Understand that video, emails, calls, or texts you may receive are not secure in the same way as a private appointment in an exam room.

● Use a private computer/device (i.e., not an employer's or third party's computer/device), secure accounts and a secure internet connection. For example, using a personal and encrypted email account is more secure than an unencrypted email account, and your access to the Internet on your home network will generally be more secure than an open guest Wi-Fi connection.

If you are concerned about using video or audio tools for virtual care, other arrangements can be made. However, please note that visiting a health care provider in person comes with a higher risk of coming into contact with COVID-19 and the possibility of spreading the virus.

By providing your information, you agree to let us collect, use, or disclose your personal health information through video or audio communications (while following applicable privacy laws) in order to provide you with care. In particular, the following means of electronic communication may be used (identify all that apply): email, videoconferencing (including Skype, Facetime, etc.), text messaging (including instant messaging), website/portal, other (specify).

To keep our community healthy and safe, Michael Garron Hospital is issuing a challenge to all east end sewists to collectively make 1,000 masks a week. MGH is encouraging all east enders to wear a fabric mask when they need to be within six feet of other people, especially vulnerable populations and the elderly. Further information and sewing instructions are available at the following link: https://www.mghf.ca/mgh1000masks

Brad Bradford, Toronto City Councillor for Beaches - East York Ward 19, is providing regular, community-focused updates through his newsletter. You can sign up to receive these emails at this link: https://bradbradford.us18.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=bab65733aaad6998bbf87459b&id=d222b79f57

Brad Bradford is also organizing a list of potential volunteers, and residents who might benefit from additional support, under the guidance of Toronto Public Health. Further information is available here: https://www.bradbradford.ca/community-response-to-covid-19/

CAMH has developed a website containing tools and information to help cope with COVID-19. It provides a self-administered stress test and also strategies on how to maintain mental wellness. http://www.camh.ca/covid19

During COVID-19 we ask that all clients wear a cloth mask upon visiting our centre – or when they cannot social distance themselves.

We are asking for our East End CHC clients who enjoy sewing to take part in creating simple 2-ply folded masks to help keep all of our community members safe. These cloth masks will be given to clients visiting our Centre!

You can schedule to drop off your cloth masks with one of our receptionists at 416-778-5858, or mail them to:

East End Community Health Centre
1619 Queen St E
Toronto, ON M4L 1G4
Attention: Donated Masks for Community

Want to learn how to make your at-home fabric mask? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FB--BOyTiU

No elastic? No problem! You can make your mask with fabric ties or ribbon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY3aS1L7S-4

Need supplies? You can order online at https://fabricspark.com/!

Want to show us what you have made? Please share by hashtagging #EastEndMaskMakers!

If you have any questions, please contact mbryan@eastendchc.on.ca