All patients should be asked the mandatory questions on the Febrile Respiratory Illness (FRI) screening tool upon entering the health care setting. Please note that the definition of FRI may be augmented in response to an infectious disease outbreak or a pandemic. The definition will be confirmed and published by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care if a pandemic should occur.

FRI patients will have a temperature (>38°C) and a respiratory illness, which may include a new or worsening cough or shortness of breath.

All FRI patients should be asked to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer and wear a procedure/surgical mask. If possible, they should wait in a separate area or keep one metre away from other patients and staff.

• Use examination techniques that minimize contact with droplets (e.g., sitting next to rather than in front of a coughing patient during examination)
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) must be worn to protect against exposure to respiratory droplets. This means all health care providers should :
• wear a surgical or procedure mask that covers the nose and mouth, when providing direct care within one metre of the patient
• wear eye protection when providing direct care within one metre of the patient
• perform hand hygiene before and after each patient contact; and before applying PPE; and after removing PPE. Use alcohol-based hand rub (minimum 60% alcohol) or wash hands with soap and water for 10 to 15 seconds
• wear gloves when contact with mucous membranes, body fluids or contaminated surfaces is likely
• wear gowns during activities in which clothing might become contaminated
• wear PPE as outlined above when performing droplet-generating procedures as per routine practice
• disinfect any patient care equipment, including your stethoscope or blood pressure cuff after each use
• show your FRI patient how to apply and wear a surgical or procedure mask and perform hand hygiene
• report FRI patients in accordance with directives from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
• ensure appropriate signage is placed on the office door in the yellow sleeve provided.

For specific information on the Emergency Infection Control Kit, please email emergencyickits.moh@ontario.ca .

CritiCall Ontario provides a 24 hour call centre for hospitals to contact on-call specialists; arrange for appropriate hospital bed access and facilitate urgent triage for patients
1-800-668-4357

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