Initial Guidance on COVID-19
To date, COVID-19 has been characterized as a pandemic worldwide. In response to the construction industry’s questions regarding the COVID-19 outbreak, the following are steps everyone should be taking now:
- If you are feeling sick, do not go to work.
- Don’t shake hands when greeting others.
- Try to stay three to six feet away from others in gatherings, meetings, and training sessions.
- Avoid contact with sick people.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Clean your hands often by washing them with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 60%–95% alcohol. Soap and water should be used if hands are visibly dirty.
- It is especially important to clean hands after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.
Construction industry employers should also:
- Stagger work breaks (including lunch) to ensure social distancing in the workplace.
- Provide soap and running water on all jobsites for frequent handwashing.
- Provide hand sanitizer when soap and running water are impossible.
- Plan for office staff to have the ability to work from home.
The Federal Government has made the following changes to the employment insurance program, waiving the mandatory one-week waiting period, making it easier for workers who self-isolate or quarantine, to apply for support immediately.
“Provide support to workers in quarantine or who have been directed to self-isolate who will claim Employment Insurance (EI) sickness benefits by waiving the mandatory one-week waiting period so they can be paid for the first week of their claim. We are exploring additional measures to support other affected Canadians, including income support for those who are not eligible for EI sickness benefits.”
Special guidance for travel:
Individuals at high risk for complications from COVID-19 should follow the current CDC’s guidance:
- Currently, older adults and persons with underlying health conditions are considered to be at increased risk for severe illness and complications from COVID-19. Learn more here.
- There are several active travel health notices for COVID-19, to see these and learn more about travel during this time, click here.
We will continue to monitor this situation and do our best to keep you up to date.
Stay up to date by following Health Canada here:
Health Canada COVID-19 Updates
