Vancouver | Coronavirus | OD Response COVID Guidelines and Resources

As we are learning more about COVID-19, we are constantly having to adjust our responses and what is considered best practice will likely ​change with some regularity.  In order to have access to the best possible information, please always get your guidelines from this site: https://sneezesdiseases.com/covid-19-community-resources​

The most recent version of all resources will always be on this site and if and when changes are made to overdose response guidelines or other resources, we will notify you all to access those most up-to-date versions from this website.

Thank you for your understanding and please feel free to reach out to any of the educators on our team for support if you have any questions.

New OD response guidelines will go up on the site later this afternoon.

Thanks

Elizabeth Holliday

Director, Special Projects, Overdose Emergency Response and Harm Reduction

Harriet Heeley

Analyst/Project Coordinator

Overdose Emergency Response

Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) Resource Manual for VCH staff and community partners working with vulnerable populations

This document provides COVID-19 information and resources for community partners who work with vulnerable populations (homeless and under-housed people, and people with complex care and/or MHSU needs).

• VCH Community Resource Manual (V1.0, last updated March 20, 2020)
  • Resources contained in community resource manual
    • COVID-19 Poster for housing facilities, shelters and other community services (VCH) (Updated March 20, 2020)
    • Personal Protective Equipment (VCH) (Updated March 20, 2020)
    • Point of care risk assessment (PCRA) tool for COVID-19 (adapted from BCCDC)
    • Caring for Vulnerable Populations during a COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
    • COVID-19 Harm Reduction and Overdose Response (BCCDC)
    • Protect yourself and others from COVID-19 (Government of BC)
    • BCCDC COVID-19 Infection Prevention (BCCDC)
    • How to hand wash (VCH)
    • How to Hand Rub (VCH)
    • Cover your Cough (VCH)
    • Droplet Precaution – steps to donning and doffing personal protective equipment (BCCDC)
    • Safer Use Strategies to Reduce Risk of COVID-19 Transmission (VCH)
    • Education slides – Infection Prevention and Control: COVID-19 (VCH)

Operations Manual For COVID-19 management in housing

This document provides guidance for implementing and operating a COVID-19 facilities for vulnerable populations (homeless and under-housed residents who are unable to self-isolate) in the Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) region.

• Operations Manual For COVID-19 management in housing (Updated March 27, 2020)

Guidelines and safe care resources
We encourage all groups to make use of the posters and guidance that have been created by VCH, BC Housing and the City. Some of these can be found here:

• Proper Hand Washing
• Proper Hand Rubbing
• Cough Etiquette
•  Fact Sheet for Homelessness Service Providers

Key public partners have developed dedicated websites with information and resources to support the community:

• VCH COVID-19 Website: http://www.vch.ca/about-us/news/vancouver-coastal-health-statement-on-coronavirus
• BC Housing Website: https://www.bchousing.org/COVID-19
• City of Vancouver Website: https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/covid-19-coronavirus-within-vancouver.aspx
• BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC): http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/coronavirus-(novel)

Questions about health concerns
If you or the people you work with have health concerns, call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1. Please be patient as they are experiencing high call volumes. For non medical information about COVID-19 Call 1-888-COVID19 (1-888-268-4319) or text  604-630-0300 from 7:30 am to 8 pm.​