AGCCC EDUCATION

BOOKLET FOR DESIGNATED AND SUPPORT PERSONS

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This is a Guide Book for AGCCC Resident's Designated  and Support Persons regarding important details they must be aware of  must be aware of prior to their visit inside our facility.

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Information for Staff about Rapid Covid Screening for Asymptomatic Staff Working in a Long Term Care (LTC) or Designated Supportive Living (DSL) Sites

The Alberta Health Minister requires LTC and DSL sites who are not currently on outbreak with COVID-19 to offer weekly staff screening for COVID-19 on site. If the rate of infection in your area is high (i.e. over 5% community infection rate), this screening will be available twice a week.

This screening test for COVID-19 is for staff with no signs of illness. The intent is to detect COVID-19 sooner, and to hopefully limit spread of this infection. The screening is not mandatory, but all staff members are asked to join in to help protect themselves, their residents and co-workers.

The Rapid COVID-19 screening is done by placing a small swab in each side of your nose. After this, the swab will be mixed with a solution and the screen is finished. Obtaining the results takes about 15 minutes. Your site manager or contact will be able to tell you more about the process for your site.

If your screen is positive, you will need to return home immediately and self-isolate. Not all positive results mean that you have COVID-19. You will also need to get a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) lab test to confirm the result. You can complete the online assessment on the AHS website at ahs.ca/covid. On the online assessment, you will need to say that you are an asymptomatic health care worker, who has received a positive rapid screen result. The online assessment will tell you where to go to be tested. Please follow the instructions provided on the website and by the Assessment Center related to isolation and self-care. You will be asked to give consent for positive results on the rapid screening test to be shared with AHS and compared to the PCR result to determine if you have COVID-19.

If you have tested positive in the past for COVID-19 and have returned to work, you are still able to do this screening along with the rest of the staff. The screen should not be positive in this case. You can get screened even if you have been advised not to retest within 90 days. Advice not to retest applies to the PCR lab tests but not to the rapid screens. If your rapid test is positive, you will receive information on next steps.

If your rapid screen is negative, remember to continue to use all current COVID-19 safety precautions including appropriate PPE, monitor for symptoms twice daily, and maintain physical distancing practices like you do now.

You should not come to work to be screened when you are sick. If you have any symptoms you should not come to work and should follow the usual processes at your site