Service Updates Resulting from COVID-19 – In Effect Until Further Notice

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For a list of vital resources in Winnipeg, see Sunshine House’s Winnipeg Pandemic Resources guide here.

For a list of no cost mental health supports during COVID, click here.

 

While Manitoba is at Critical level (red) on the Pandemic Response System Klinic Community Health is reducing services to only those that are deemed essential.  This is necessary to halt COVID-19 transmission, and to allow us to increase services to meet the needs of our community including COVID-19 positive / presumptive individuals and at the same time redeploy some of our staff to areas of priority need in community, long term care and acute care. During this time it is important for our clients to know that many of our healthcare and counselling services are available if you need them. Please visit the individual services page for updates to specific programs.

Medical Appointments

Clients – who have an in person appointment booked, please be aware of the following:

  • If you have any COVID-19 symptoms or have been told to self-isolate, please call us at 204-784-4090 ahead of time to reschedule your appointment.
    • If your health concern is time sensitive and you feel you cannot wait, we will have one of our providers review your situation and determine whether you should be seen in person, by phone or rescheduled for a later date Please note that if your health concern is urgent, please proceed to your nearest Emergency or Urgent Care Department.
    • If you’re unsure what the symptoms of COVID-19 are, please check here: https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/updates/testing.html. If you do have symptoms, please get tested and self-isolate from others.
  • We are limiting the number of people who attend appointments to one person in the room at a time. This does not apply to interpreters, support workers and families / caregivers with young children. If this is a concern for you, please speak to your health care provider.
  • Please don’t arrive for your appointment more than five minutes before the scheduled time. If you arrive earlier than that, we will ask you to leave and return closer to your scheduled appointment time. This is required in order to minimize the number of people in our waiting areas.

Physical Distancing

  • While in our facility, please maintain a minimum of a 6 foot distance from people who are not within your household.

Masks

  • We are now requiring that you wear a mask for the duration of your appointment except for people who suffer from an illness or disability that makes it difficult to put on or take off a mask, those who have difficulty breathing, or for children under the age of 5 years. Homemade masks must be made of a minimum of two layers. Non-medical masks must be made of tightly woven material (i.e. cotton or linen), and fit securely with no gaps. Most importantly, you must feel comfortable in your non-medical mask. In addition, reusable non-medical masks should not have any holes or valves that are open to the air. Holes or valves allow respiratory droplets to escape from the non-medical mask and decreases its ability to prevent the spread of COVID-19. If you choose to make your own non-medical mask, Health Canada has developed sew and no-sew patterns for making masks at home. If you don’t have one available, please let our staff know and we will provide one for you.

Screening

  • You will be screened for symptoms and other risk factors when arriving at a Klinic. Please note that if you have any symptoms or risk factors such as waiting for a COVID-19 test or recent travel, you may be asked to return home and reschedule your appointment.

Hand & Cough Hygiene

  • Upon arrival you will be asked to sanitize your hands. Please cover your mouth and nose with a tissue if you cough or sneeze, or do so into your elbow, and hand sanitize immediately after.

We know that some of these changes are not easy for you, and we really appreciate your support and understanding. Working together to follow the guidelines is the best opportunity we have to minimize the risk of transmission and to keep our communities safe.

Isolation Skills Resources

Isolation is tough on all of us. Human beings are social creatures, and not having the opportunity to connect with each other can be really difficult. These resources include a number of strategies for coping with the many aspects of isolation, as well as worksheets, suggestions, and schedules.

And remember: please take care of yourself!