Updated Guidance for Management of Critical Staffing Shortages


The Ontario Ministry of Health has provided updated guidance on managing critical staffing shortages.

This update:
  • adds home and community care workers to the list for early return to work consideration to mitigate critical staff shortages, and
  • identifies staff who are close contacts and who have had a resolved test-positive infection in the past 90 days do not need to isolate and can work in the highest-risk settings.

Implications for Occupational Therapists
  • Occupational therapists working in home and community care are now included with those who have shortened isolation periods prior to returning to work after exposure and/or positive COVID-19 tests. 
  • Those who have had a confirmed case of COVID in the past 90 days do not need to isolate and can work in high risk settings.